Regional News of Tuesday, 23 February 2016

Source: Today Newspaper

Higgins Primary chalks 60; but lacks computers for ICT training

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The Higgins Primary School in Takoradi since its establishment some sixty (60) years ago has produced many prominent men and women in the country who are in very responsible positions.

Despite its achievements, there are lots of problems which militate against the academic performance of the school.

And one of such problems is the lack of computers.

The school cannot boast of even one computer not to talk of a computer lab to aid in the teaching and learning of ICT.

It faces sanitation problems as it has no proper place to conveniently dispose refuse to keep its environment clean.

The school, situated near the Takoradi office of the Social Welfare Department, has no canteen where pupils can sit and eat during break while it suffers from unnecessary interruptions from the members in the community for lack of fence wall.

Against this background, School Prefect of the school, Miss Grace Dovlo, made a passionate appeal to the city authority, Metro Education Office, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the government and the general public to come to their aid.

She also called for the construction of a fence wall around the school to prevent the usage of the school as a walkway by members of the public and requested for the provision of a school canteen for the pupils so that they can enjoy their meals during break time.

She also appealed to government to enroll the school on the School Feeding Program to prevent absenteeism of pupils.

Miss Dovlo made the appeal during the school’s 60th Anniversary celebration climax.
It was on the theme, “Academic Excellence for the Ghanaian Child.”

Head teacher of the school, Mrs. Florence Aburwofie, was happy about the improvement in academics and discipline in the school as pupils are now eager to learn through the guidance and counselling by their dedicated teachers.

However, she lamented the poor attendance during P.T.A general meetings and said parents and guardians especially, the fishmongers leave their homes very early and at dawn to go to the market to sell giving excuses while the few who make it also come very late.

The school was founded by A.M.E Higgins from the U.S. for the children of Liberians and Nigerians who came to settle in Takoradi to establish the Higgins Missions in the then Gold Coast after the slave trade, hence it was called “Cruu” school.

One of the things worth mentioning is that ex-president Charles Taylor of Liberia was one of the pioneer pupils of this great school. Later the government took over the school and the Ghana Education Service (GES) appointed Mr. James Adomako as the first head teacher.