Pong Tamale Senior High School (PONTASS) Marked 25thAnniversary

The Pong Tamale Senior High School (PONTASS) in the Savulugu Municipality of the Northern region on Saturday March18, 2017 celebrated its 25 years of existence as a community secondary school.

The school which was established in 1991 with only18 students and the aim of producing students to feed the Pong Tamale Vetenary College can now boast of 700 to 800 student population.

Speaking on behalf of the vice president, the guest of honor and Northern regional minister, salifu Saeed lauded the theme for the celebration “25 years of Community Based Senior High School: Prospects, Challenges and the Way Forward” as it offers opportunity for introspection into the challenges and successes of the school since its inception in 1991.

“Mr. Chairman, the theme for the 25^th Anniversary Celebration “25 years of Community Based Senior High School: Prospects, Challenges and the Way forward” is phenomenally appropriate. It offers us the opportunity for introspection; looking within, to identify our challenges and successes and to make the relevant adjustments for a thriving future” he said

“Mr. Chairman, it is my firm belief that most of us are here today because we are conscious that education has the lasting potential for making our lives better and that through quality education we can empower our people and transform our communities and our nation as a whole. No wonder, Abraham Lincoln, the 16^th President of the United States of America stated that “the philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next generation". It is for this reason that we must explore various ways to making quality education more accessible and affordable” he added.

Honorable Saeed also used the occasion to call for an increase in girl-child enrolment in the various schools to help achieve gender parity in the country.

“Mr. Chairman, I am informed that there has been remarkable improvement in girl’s enrolment. Gender Parity Index (GPI) has since 2009/2010 academic year increased. As the numbers enrolled have increased over the years, the number of girls enrolled in the school has shot up significantly. Despite the improvement in the enrolment of girls, it is still difficult for most girls to proceed to the tertiary level from high schools. It behooves us all to make room for the enrolment of more girls and to make the school more productive for them”

He also reiterated the commitment of the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufu Addo and vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumiya to provide free secondary education to all children in public schools in the country. “Mr. Chairman, it is line with this that the Government of the NPP has recognized the critical role of education in nation development, and therefore has introduced the free Senior High School policy. The free SHS policy will start in the 2017/2018 academic year. As a party in Government we have made firm commitment to this policy.

“We will also be better off if more investments were made in training and to incentivize high school teachers. This will ensure that the various subjects have adequately motivated teachers to teach” Mr. Saeed added.

Mr. Salifu Saeed also assured the Pong-Tamale senior high school government support to help improve teaching and learning in the school.

“Mr. Chairman I wish to assure you that the Government shall not renege in providing the requisite support to the school. I am confident that with more support from all stakeholders, commitment from the teachers to set their goals on producing the best students and a solid resolve from all the students to perform, the Pong-Tamale Senior High School will be the bastion of community based secondary education in Ghana”.

In her welcome address, the headmistress of the school, Mrs Magaret Alasima Gbande said after 25 years of existence, the school still faces lots of challenges. According to her, the Pong Tamale Senior High School lacks infrastructure and other social amenities such as water, stable electricity and transportation.

“Mr. Chairman, I am not lamenting, because the occasion to celebrate the 25 should be successes rather than the challenges. However, it is also good to make mention our needs to the family as we seek help from the government and other philanthropist. After 25 years, the good intention of government to give the school a standard dining hall is yet to be realized. In it is short yet to be completed. Accommodation for both staff and teachers is still remaining a big challenge” she said

The school according to Mrs Magaret Alasima Gbande faces acute water supply and frequent power outage affecting teaching and learning. “Mr. Chairman, our school is fortunate to be a beneficiary of the national electricity grid and the Pong Tamale water supply, yet we face acute water shortage from the month of March to August each year. Our students are often seen carrying the yellow gallons searching for water” she explained.

She however noted that, despite all the challenges facing the school, the school since its establishment has choked some successes necessary for celebration.

“As it is always known, the joy of child-birth starts with labor, it is therefore worth for us to be together today after 25 years of labor and joy to publicly make ourselves know to the country and the whole world at large” she stated.

“Mr. Chairman, we are not currently in the best situation as far as infrastructure and other facilities are concerned. But that should not over shadow our successes of celebration. I am proud to say that, one can get an old boy or girl of this humble institution in almost all the labor front of this country. We have never in a minute try to give up as far as our national and educational goals are concerned “she added

On academics, Mrs Magaret Alasima Gbande said students’ performance of the school in the West African Senior School certificate examination (WASSCE) has seen improvement. According to her, the Pong Tamale Senior High School has moved out from the association of law performing schools in the country.

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