Old students to execute several projects for Swedru SHS to mark 65th anniversary
By Fauzeeya JAMAL-DEEN, Accra
The Swedru Senior High School Old Students’ Association is set to embark on infrastructural projects to improve teaching and learning conditions in their alma mater, as part of their 65th anniversary celebration.
The Old Swesconians Association intends to construct a four unit, 2-bedroom flat for teachers, expand the dining hall, complete an ongoing science laboratory project and an agriculture farm project at the school.
The 65th anniversary celebration is set to come off in March 2024.
Speaking at the launch of the 65th anniversary celebration, Global President of the Old Swesconians Association, Samuel Atta Mensah, underscored the importance of the old students in contributing to the development of the school.
According to him, government does not take pride in the school; it is rather the old students who do and therefore falls on them to contribute to the betterment of the school.
“We are trying to rebuild the Association at different levels. We need to show the school and the rest of the community that there is value in coming together,” he said.
The 65th anniversary celebration, themed, ‘Building a resilient educational Institution in a challenging global economy; The gains and challenges of the Swesco Journey,’ is aimed at reviving and strengthening the Association.
The celebration was a dinner and dance event which brought together 33 different old student groups, the school’s management, leadership of the old students’ association, and some distinguished guests to recount memories and find ways the old students can contribute to resolving some of the challenges facing the school.
The Association also unveiled a redesigned crest to replace the existing one for the school.
Headmistress of Swedru SHS, Golda Andam, applauded the old students for their efforts to come together and take up projects that will enhance teaching and learning activities.
She indicated that the school, with about 4,000 students, faces inadequate accommodation for teachers on campus, inadequate non-teaching staff and poor infrastructure.
“We call upon all stakeholders to come and support us. It is our hope that the goodwill that you have to support the school will increase, so that we lift the image of the school higher,” she said.
On his part, Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, said that old students and other stakeholders have played a vital role in the government’s efforts to expand access to education for every child in the country.
He urged the Association to continue the tradition of supporting their alma mater to make things easier for the current generation of students.
He added that the Ministry will ensure that the abandoned girls’ dormitory and teachers’ flat projects at Swedru Senior High School will be terminated and re-awarded to committed contractors to improve infrastructural development in the school.
The Association used the occasion to raise some funds from the various year groups that were present to support the upcoming projects.
The Deputy Minister for Education also made a commitment to contribute GH¢10,000 to support the infrastructure projects that the old students want to embark on.
Special awards were also given to some members of the old students’ association who have played key roles to ensure its growth.
