Free SHS making a giant impact in the education sector – Education Minister

The Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has lauded the leadership of Dormaa Senior High School for improving the school’s academic performance.

The Minister attributed the huge turnaround of the School’s academic performance to the impact of the Free SHS.

He explained that the School’s pass rate moving from 21.5 per cent in 2016 to 89 per cent in 2020 is worth commending and urged other schools to emulate the best practices that led to the turnaround of the Dormaa School.

“The Dormaa SHS turnaround is a true testimony of the impact of the Free Senior High School policy which has increased enrolment and quality of education as well,” the Minister said.

Dr. Adutwum made the commendation when he delivered a speech at the 75th anniversary celebration of Dormaa SHS in the Bono region on Saturday.

The well-attended durbar brought together old students, the traditional authority, various stakeholders in the education space and members of Faith-Based Organizations among others.

Transformation record

In 2016, 21.5% of Dormaa SHS students qualified to go to the university, 50 per cent qualified in 2017, 55 per cent in 2018, 78% in 2019and 89% qualified in 2020.

Again, he urged the School authorities to continue working as a team and redouble their efforts to enable them be the best SHS in the country and caution them not to be complacent.

He indicated the President’s commitment to providing the needed resources for the provision of quality education in the country.

Dr. Adutwum pledged to continue supporting schools in the country with the right policies and initiatives that stand the chance of transforming the nation’s economy through education.

The Education Minister urged all stakeholders of the School to continue working very hard to continue with improvement in the academic and other records of the school.

Challenge 

He challenged the leadership of the School to help increase the enrolment of students pursuing science since it plays a critical role in the transformation of the nation’s economy.

“Your future is in your own hands so be determined, work hard, remain focused and don’t relax. Take advantage of what is going on in the School to shape your future”. Dr. Adutwum urged the students.

The Headmaster of the School, Mr. Nicholas Asamoah used the occasion to thank both teaching and non-teaching staff, and other stakeholders of the school for their hard-working leading to the current academic record among others.

He also praised the government for the support over the years in making the School the first port of call by all parents in the region to ensure that their children could benefit from the kind of training being offered by the school.

Abandoned projects

Mr. Asamoah appealed to the government to consider completing an old dining hall and kitchen building started by former President John Evans Atta-Mills which remains unroofed.

The completion of the project would allow all students to go to the dining hall at the same time instead of the current rotational eating schedules for students due to the lack of space. 

Again, he appealed to the government to help expand infrastructure in the school to help accommodate the rising population and appealed for a school bus to enhance transportation of both students and staff for field trips and others.

Samuel Ansong

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