headmaster's report

Once again its time to give an account of what has gone on in the school since the 61st speech and prize day.

At the end of the 2001 academic year, 739 students left the school. 979 students were admitted at the beginning of 2001/2002. The students' population now is 2596; 1,552 girls and 1044 boys with 2479 being boarders. The current establishment of teachers is 104 with 100 teachers at post. We also have 115 non-teaching staff at post. Within 62 years of existence the school has produced 11,601 students.

The level of discipline on the part of our students is appreciable. I commend the Boarding Council, the Disciplinary Committee and the Counselling and Chaplaincy Teams for the tremendous work that they are doing. The School authorities have managed to print the names of students on their school attires helping to easily identify students.

The academic performance of the school has been improving steadily over the years. Students in our school unlike other schools present four electives at SSCE, thereby writing eight subjects instead of seven subjects. 58% of our students who passed out this year qualify to enter the current tertiary institutions. An equal large number is also capable of entering the post secondary institutions. I commend teachers for working very hard in turn the clock around. Teachers have responded positively teaching the additional two periods a day on the schools timetable to make up for lost contact hours. However the P.T.A.'s ¢20 million teacher motivation every term that made the above possible had been eclipsed by the current level of school fees.

The school has already taken the lead in ensuring that our youth are ready for the golden age of I.T. We continue to organize well-structured instructions in Basic computer skills for all the students, and ensure that they can use the computer and the Internet in their day-to-day activities. Students and teachers use the school's Internet facilities for research work and for sending and receiving mails. The school has started a Computer Outreach Program for some basic schools pupils in the school's locality. Our partnership with software Engineering Consultancy service, an Accra based software developer, has seen the development of software packages for the running of school administration and the administering of student affairs. We have successful computerized about 95% of school administrative activities. Our success story has encouraged sister schools such as Adisadel College to follow our foot steps in this direction. Ghana National, Holy Child School and many more hope to follow suit. We hope to fully reap the benefits of this project when we install the 70 million-cedi Optical Mark Reader, one very similar to what WAEC uses in its operations, which the school has already purchased. We have travelled far on the computerization road and hope to travel further on this very expensive journey. Help in this direction would be welcomed. In recognition of the school's IT exploits, the Headmaster has been made a member of the National Computerisation Committee which is to oversee the computerisation of pre-tertiary schools.

The school took part in a lot of social activities in the course of the year. In UNICEF CHILDREN ESSAY Competition three of our students were selected for awards in August 2001. The school placed fourth in a Student Drama Festival organised by the Centre for National Culture in October 2001. In The TEEN Ambassador Contact organised by American Friendship Society in November 2001, one of our student was selected with other five students to represent Central Region. In the just ended 5th African History Month Competitions held in February 2002 the school placed first in Art and Craft and 2nd in Choral Music.

It is interesting to note that the Old Students Association -AMOSA are organising themselves strongly. In April 2001 the school hosted about 500 old students for the maiden AMOSA Tertiary Institutions Congress. In December 2001 the general Old Students held a National Congress in the school. National Executive members were elected. Also the AMOSA WEB-PAGE on the school's WEB SITE was outdoored. The 1977-year group of the old students wholly financed the 62nd speech and Prize-Giving Day celebration. The Guest Speaker for the celebration, Professor Samuel Ebow Quainoo, is on old student of the 1977-year group. He is bearing the first year cost of the best student that enters the country's tertiary institution for ten consecutive years. The Board and the old students want to institutionalise this sponsorship and 1977 year group has passed on the mantle to 1978 year group for the sponsorship next year's Speech Day. An old student of 1979-year group, Mr. Peter Amponsah-Mensah has instituted a ¢ 200,000 award for each best-behaved boy and girl students with effect from last year 2001.

During the year The Honourable Minister for Primary Secondary and Girl Child Education, Miss Christine Churcher invited Hydeia Broadbent of Hydeia Broadbent AIDS Foundation of USA to the country to launch an AIDS awareness campaign. The School was privileged to host this Foundation

The school has been making a modest achievement in the sporting world. At the National Level the school emerged champions in the 4th Edition of the Valco Invitational Soccer Tournament in Accra. Also, in the 13th edition of schools' Milo Soccer Championship, the school placed 5th,, but won the FAIR PLAY trophy. At the regional level the school placed 1st and 3rd respectively on the table tennis Girls and Boys divisions. The school has been performing above average in athletics and other disciplines.

At the Abura Asebu Kwamankese District Award Scheme, Mr. Lawrence Impraim, a Science of the school, was adjudged the Best Science teacher and Mr. Atta Kojo William, a non-teacher Staff of the school was adjudged the best non-teaching staff worker. The church continues to support the school and contributed ¢2,000,000 towards the 62nd speech day celebrations.

I commend the P.T.A. Board of governors and the Old Student for the positive support given the school and me so far. We thank the GES for the support they are giving to the school.

It is my hope that the school will grow from strength to strength and would see more improvement in the coming year. Long live Aggrey. SEMPER OPTIMO NITERE ALWAYS AIM HIGH