Prosper AGBENYEGA
St. Mary’s Seminary Senior High School (SMASCO) marked its 65th anniversary with a grand Speech and Prize-Giving Day and Homecoming event focused on raising funds to build a sick bay and accommodation for resident nurses.
The event, held at the school’s premises in Lolobi in the Oti Region, drew government officials, traditional leaders, educators, students, alumni, and community members.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Might Kojo Abreh, an alumnus from the class of 1999, reflected on his personal journey and the foundational role the school played in shaping his life.
He recounted memorable moments from his time at SMASCO, emphasizing the enduring values of discipline, camaraderie, and academic rigor instilled at the institution.
Professor Abreh’s speech centered on the theme: “Empowering the 21st-century learner: Our shared responsibility in redefining quality and sustainable education.”
He highlighted the unique challenges and opportunities faced by today’s learners—digital natives navigating an information-rich and rapidly evolving world.
“Quality education today transcends rote learning,” he said. “It demands critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and digital fluency. We must prepare students not only for exams but for real-world problem-solving in a global context.”
The professor called on all stakeholders, government officials, educators, traditional leaders, parents, students, and alumni, to unite in redefining and enhancing education quality.
He praised ongoing government initiatives such as free secondary education, school feeding programs, and sanitary pad distribution, while urging continued investment in infrastructure and teacher development.
Prof. Abreh painted a vivid picture of SMASCO’s current infrastructural challenges, including limited ICT resources, inadequate classrooms and dormitories, and under-equipped laboratories.
He urged alumni and the community to rally support, proposing the establishment of a “21st-Century Teaching and Learning Community Development Fund” to advance technology integration, innovative teaching, and overall school improvement.
Committing the first GHC 10,000 to this fund, he appealed for collective action to elevate the school from Category B to Category A status.
“Let us transform St. Mary’s Seminary SHS into a beacon of excellence and innovation in the Oti Region and beyond,” he urged.
Closing his address, Professor Abreh expressed confidence in the school’s future, envisioning SMASCO as a benchmark institution producing critical thinkers, innovators, and ethical leaders ready to thrive in the 21st century.
Rev. Fr. Felix Akpa, the Headmaster of the School, highlighted the rich legacy of the school, founded on September 29, 1961, by the Catholic Church to nurture educated, disciplined, and God-fearing young men for leadership in both religious and secular fields.
The school currently serves over 1,030 students across various programs, including General Science, Business, Visual Arts, and Technical skills such as plumbing and carpentry.
Rev. Fr. Akpa acknowledged the school’s notable alumni, which include prominent leaders.
Despite its proud history, the school faces pressing challenges, notably in infrastructure and learning resources.
The school’s physical facilities have aged considerably, with classroom blocks and dormitories over two decades old, and key structures like the assembly hall and administration block incomplete.
There is a severe shortage of basic furniture, with an urgent need for over 600 desks and chairs and 400 beds to ensure student comfort. The school also lacks a sick bay, a priority for the current year’s fundraising efforts.
“The celebration is to mobilize support for these critical projects,” the Headmaster appealed to dignitaries, alumni, corporate entities, and the community to adopt one or more projects. “Your legacy will be remembered and cherished forever,” he added.
Rev. Fr. Akpa also praised past contributions from the alumni association (SMOBA), which has renovated sanitation facilities and painted the dining hall, but emphasized that much remains to be done.
Deputy Oti Regional Director of Education also spoke at the event, underscoring the importance of redefining education for the 21st century.
She emphasized that quality education is no longer confined to test scores but includes creativity, teamwork, and leadership in addressing global challenges such as climate change and technological transformation.
She urged all stakeholders, government, educators, alumni, parents, and the community, to unite in supporting SMASCO’s development efforts, emphasizing that “sustainable education is only possible when all stakeholders make an impact.”
The Homecoming event provided a timely opportunity to celebrate the school’s enduring legacy while focusing attention on the urgent need for resources to improve the learning environment and infrastructure.
As the school looks forward to a brighter future, it calls on all well-wishers and partners to contribute generously towards projects that will enhance student welfare and academic excellence.
The event also spotlighted the school’s role in shaping ethical, disciplined leaders and emphasized the importance of holistic education anchored in integrity and community values.
The event concluded with renewed calls for collaboration among all parties to ensure a sustainable and prosperous educational future for St. Mary’s Seminary Senior High School and its students.
