Kinbu Senior High Technical School (SHTS) has launched its 150th-year anniversary celebration and unveilled an anniversary logo – with a call by Board Chairman, Mr. John Mensah Anang, on all stakeholders to unite in fostering an environment of creativity, critical thinking and collaboration to continue building future leaders for the nation.
Speaking at the 150th-year anniversary main launch at the auditorium of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Friday, the Board Chairman acknowledged visionaries who laid a foundation for the school to achieve this historic milestone – a century and a half of educational excellence, resilience and transformative impact on the lives of countless students, including the sitting President Akufo-Addo.
The school’s Headmistress, Mrs. Sylvia M. Letcher-Teye, presented historical phases the school has undergone from 1874 to its current status.
Phase one was in the era of British Governor Samuel Rowe. The school existed as 2 primary schools, James Town and Adabraka. Upon completion of primary education, the boys continued at Government Boys’ School while girls went to Government Girls’ School near Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Accra.
Phase two occurred during the 1976 Educational Reform Programme’s introduction in Ghana. This reform phased out Kinbu Middle Boys School to establish the first ten Experimental Junior Secondary Schools as a pilot programme in Ghana. In 1987, the school metamorphosed to Kinbu Junior Secondary School when the Educational Reform Programme became universal.
Phase three saw the school change its courses to include technical programmes, so the school’s name changed to Kinbu Secondary Technical School in 1991.
Phase four, the last, occurred in 2006 when WAEC renamed its examination from Senior Secondary Schools Certificate Examination (SSSCE) to West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). This modified the names of Senior Secondary Schools to Senior High Schools, hence, Kinbu Secondary Technical School became Kinbu Senior High Technical School.
The Headmistress added that the school is proud to say President Akufo-Addo is one of its products.
She mentioned some Kinbu Old Students Association (KOSA) members who have distinguished themselves in their various public and private lives include Prof. Nii Otu Nartey (KOSA-1960), former CEO-Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital; the late Nat Nunoo Amarteifio, former Mayor of Accra; Nii Aryee Krotia, (a.k.a, George M. Aryee), Development Chief of James Town; Mr. Isaac Nortey (KOSA-1960), Labour Union Activist, USA; Rev. Nii John Gershong (KOSA-1963), Missiologist; and Dr. Ishmael Nii Amanor Dodoo, United Nations, and many more.
The main launch ceremony chairman, George Asamaney Ampofo Esq., urged students to embrace discipline as a personal responsibility and a key to unlock the doors to academic excellence, personal development and future success. He said in the 150th-year anniversary celebration of Kinbu, it is fitting to acknowledge the pivotal role played by government’s Free Senior High School policy. He explained that the policy has not only expanded access to education but also been a beacon of hope for countless students, who without it might not have had a chance to pursue their dreams.
Unveilling the Anniversary Logo, President-Kinbu Old Students Association (KOSA), Ing. Joseph Kwasi Oddei, called on all old students of the school – including H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo – to rally behind it and provide support to ensure the anniversary is a success. He said the anniversary, which is a full-year celebration in 2024, will be climaxed with a Speech and Prize Giving Day on Saturday, 28th September, 2024. The anniversary is under the theme ‘Equipping Our Future Leaders with 21st Century Skills – The Roles of Stakeholders’.
Providing the gathering’s purpose, Assistant Headmaster-Academic, Kinbu SHTS, Mr. David Tettey Tawiah explained that the Pre-Speech & Prize Giving Day activities include Fun Games, KOSA Homecoming, Health screening, Clean-up exercise, a Float and other reunion activities.
