Bawku SHS cries for infrastructure expansion

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku The Bawku Senior High School in the Upper East Region has launched its 50th anniversary celebration with an appeal to government and old students to address infrastructure deficiencies and other challenges that inhibit the smooth running of the school. The Headmaster of the school, Mr Bismarck Simon Kpuli who made the appeal at the launch of the school’s Golden Jubilee celebration at Bawku said the school had turned out a lot of people who were contributing to the socio-economic development of the country, yet the school was currently facing many problems making it difficult to provide better learning environment for students. Bawku Senior High School was established on October 11, 1963 as a co-educational institution with an initial enrollment of 50 students and four teachers. 50 years on, the student population stands at 2,780 with 124 teachers. The anniversary, which will be climaxed on October this year, will be on the theme, “The Search for peaceful co-existence to promote quality education”. Mr. Kpuli mentioned some infrastructure which needed to be expanded and renovated such as staff bungalows, dormitories, library, ICT and Science and assembly hall among others due to increase in enrolment. “Due to inadequate accommodation for the staff, some teachers and their families are sleeping in some empty classrooms, while other commute daily from school and their rented premises in town. The situation in the boarding house is also dire as there is overcrowding and the likelihood of an outbreak of an epidemic. ” he said. He said there was the urgent need for the provision of boreholes in the school to maintain regular supply of water to the kitchen and the school’s administration block. The Headmaster added that the school needed an ICT Centre and a library complex to meet the growing needs of students in a challenging technological world. He lauded the Parent Teacher Association for the numerous assistance to the school including funding the construction of a fence wall to secure the boundaries of the school which has prevented encroachment of school lands and helped to improve discipline in the school as well financing on yearly basis, an academic improvement programme to the tune of about GH c 45,000 each year. He said despite the challenges, the school's academic performance had been excellent. For three years running it has scored 100 per cent passes in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The Paramount Chief of Bawku, Nana Asigri Azoka Abugrago II praised the school authorities for working hard under trying conditions to maintain an enviable academic record particularly during the trying periods of the Bawku conflict. He also called for the restoration of the name of the school to its previous name, Asoka Senior High School to preserve memory of the then Bawku Naba who assisted in securing a land for the school. The second Headmaster of the School, Mr. Robert A. Ajene who chaired the function advised the current students to be discipline and concentrate on their studies in order to achieve their objective of being in school. The Municipal Chief Executive for Bawku, Mr. Musah Abdulai, also a former student said the need for more infrastructures will receive government’s attention namely a modern administration block, dormitories, dining hall assembly hall and sanitation facilities. He disclosed that currently, two blocks of flats for the teaching staff are under construction and expressed the hope that this when completed will greatly improve staff accommodation. -End- Writer’s email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh