The teachers of Notre Dame Minor Seminary Senior High School in the Kassena Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region have had a major boost following the decision of the 1999 batch of the school to refurbish the staff common room.
Despite its former deplorable state, the room still served as the place teachers had to sit to prepare for lessons and probably engage in knowledge sharing.
But the story has completely changed. Instead of plastic chairs and old furniture, the refurbished structure has now been fitted with modern furniture, reflective of an executive room. The once tattered ceiling has a new appeal after it has been changed to a Plaster of Paris otherwise known as the POP ceiling.
Aside from these, a fridge with a dispenser and a modern television with a one-year cable TV subscription has equally been installed in addition to a changed washroom.
Known as Amichi, the old students decided to step in to renovate the staff common room of the 64-year-old school to help in efforts to maintain the highest educational standards.
Notre Dame Minor Seminary Senior High School, founded in 1960, remains a category A school and is currently ranked the 8th best senior high school in Ghana.
The staff Common room is one of many school needs that authorities presented to the old boys.
Speaking to Dreamz News on behalf of his colleagues, Prof. Roger Ayinbila Atinga, noted that the renovation of the structure places emphasis on the key role the teacher has to play in ensuring improved standards of education.
The desire is therefore to motivate the teachers to give their best to reflect the status of the school and help it to reach greater heights.
“We did this because the foundation of teaching and learning begins with the teacher. So, we believe that we have to tackle this to motivate the teacher to help improve teaching and learning by giving them the right environment.” He said
After spending over 200,000 cedis to embark on the project, Prof. Atinga, while assuring of their decision to take up other projects, urged other batches to step in.
“The school has some challenges but we have set the pace. Now we have an understanding of the needs and I would like to appeal to other year groups. The head spoke about the vehicle, guidance, and counseling unit, the school’s gate, and other issues. Though our disadvantage has to do with few numbers we are committed to gradually contributing and addressing the challenges.” Prof. Atinga stressed.
Meanwhile, the Headmaster of the School, Rev. Father Vitus Alnaa, described the gesture as a huge relief. He said the former state did not reflect the status of the school.
