SOGASCO celebrates 50th Anniversary

The Headmaster of SOGASCO, Mr. Kwame Tawiah Aggor(left0, The cultural group of the school displaying at the 50th Anniversary ceremony at Sogakope over the weekend(middle), The Administration Block of SOGASCO(right)

The Headmaster of   the Sogakope Senior  High School  (SOGASCO), popularly known as 'the Lower Volta Varsity,' Mr. Kwame Tawiah Aggor, says the strategic location of the school has made it very attractive to parents, who would like their children to be admitted in the school.

Mr. Aggor said the school, with a humble beginning of 13 students, made up of 9 boys and 4 girls, now has a total student population of 2,195, comprising 1,225 boys and 970 girls, noting that 1,350 of the total number were boarders, and 845 being day students.

Giving an account of his management at the 50th Anniversary celebration of SOGASCO over the weekend at the South Tongu District capital, Sogakope, the Headmaster pointed out that even though the school was one major institutions of attraction to many parents, it still faced infrastructural and other problems.

He said one of the school's achievements over the years was its impressive academic record, which he attributed to the high level of discipline, due to the hard work of the staff of the school, which he stressed, was the pivot of the academic successes of educational institutions.

Mr. Aggor disclosed that the school continued to score 100 percent in the final examination, saying the least percentage score of the institution at the final examination was 90 percent, and commended the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the school, which he said, had helped in building the school to its current state.

The Headmaster said the PTA of the school, currently, had provided 200 mono desks, 810 units of bed, refurbished the school's multi-purpose hall extension, as well as extension work carried out on the boys' dormitory to accommodate more students, established a sick bay to cater for the welfare of the students, and the ongoing construction of an-18 unit classroom block for the school.

He said the excellent academic performance of the school, had it made it possible for one of the students to benefit from a study programme abroad. 'It would interest you to know that currently, one of our students is in Delhi, India, as part of a four-member team representing Africa in a training programme for student girls in a UN round table discussion on ICT in the development of the girl child in Africa'.

Mr. Aggor also commended the South Tongu District Assembly for its contribution, in providing a three-unit classroom block, 400 mono desks, 50 tables and 100 benches for the dining hall, and urged the District Assembly to help complete the construction of the ongoing girls dormitory, which had come to a standstill.

He pointed out that the government had neglected SOGASCO for far too long, noting that the infrastructure problem confronting the school was due to neglect.

He again appealed to the government to help the institution through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund) to provide more infrastructure, as well as vehicles, as the school currently has no vehicle.

The Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Amenowode, commended the management of the school, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), and other stakeholders for upholding the vision of the founding fathers, and making the school one of the best schools in the region, and which continues to attract prospective students and their parents.

Mr. Amenowode expressed worry over the issue of an existing land dispute between sections of the community at Sogakope and the school, which he said, was gradually affecting the peaceful educational environment, and urged the relevant stakeholders to intervene to help address the situation.

He urged old students to play important roles in the development of educational institutions, and district assemblies to also assist in the promotion of educational activities at the grassroots level, in order to avoid the situation where all expectations in the development of schools were assumed to be the responsibility of the government.