By Michael Foli Jackidy
Ho (V/R), March 20, GNA - As requested by Madam Benedicta Amata Mawunyo Agbezudor, the Headmistress of OLA Senior High School, she fervently called for an expansion of her institution’s facilities.
She mentioned that the school is becoming incredibly overcrowded because of the quickly expanding number of students.
At the 71st Annual Speech and Prize-Giving Day, along with the Silver Jubilee celebration for the classes of 1999 and 2000 held on Saturday, March 15, 2025, Madam Agbezudor announced that the school currently has a total of 4,607 students, out of which 4,502 are boarding students.
She stated this has resulted in a critical lack of classrooms, chairs and desks, dormitories, as well as insufficient dining hall space.
Mrs. Agbezudor emphasized that the crowded classrooms make teaching and learning difficult.
She requested the building of a 48-classroom facility to alleviate overcrowding and enhance educational settings.
Moreover, she pointed out the derelict Headmistress' bungalow, which stands at 70 percent completion yet remains in disarray, having suffered damage from a storm that tore off sections of the roof.
She requested the Volta Regional Minister to step in and guarantee that the contractor restarts work on the initiative.
The condition of the school’s transportation system is equally deplorable. Ms. Agbezudor expressed her concern over OLA Senior High School having just two outdated and dilapidated 33-seater buses, where one is presently undergoing maintenance at a repair shop, leaving them with another bus that can hardly run properly and cannot venture past Ho.
“The maintenance of these buses and our aging duty post vehicle has become a financial burden on the school,” she stated.
She highlighted that the science lab requires immediate renovations and improvements, urging the government, former students, and charitable groups to contribute towards modernizing the facility for better science education.
Regarding sanitation facilities, Head Girl Nana Abena Annorbea Antwire highlighted an infrastructure issue in her report. She pointed out that not even one restroom can cater to two groups of students simultaneously at present.
She depicted the state of the classrooms, dormitories, and furnishings as pushed past their limits, noting that the washrooms are also experiencing significant strain because of excessive use.
In delivering a goodwill address, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, who serves as the Vice-President of the National Catholic Bishops Conference and is also the Catholic Bishop of Ho, recognized that overcrowding in secondary schools is a nationwide issue.
He highlighted how large class sizes adversely impact teacher-to-pupil ratios, moral development, and interaction time, complicating efforts by educators to offer sufficient personalized instruction.
Even with these difficulties, he encouraged the students to stay dedicated and aim for greatness, stressing that OLA SHS continues to be a source of inspiration for young women striving to make a constructive difference in their communities.
Dr. Mrs. Edem Sabah Welbeck, who serves as the Worldwide President of the Former OLA Girls Association (FOGA), has declared that the organization is seeking donations for a FOGA Heritage Initiative—a planned 700-room residence anticipated to be finished within four years (by 2029).
She highlighted advancements in the Mission House initiative, mentioning that the groundwork for the first level is finished. She encouraged every alumnus to support the dormitory endeavor to address overpopulation issues.
The cohorts of 1999 and 2000, marking their Silver Jubilees, contributed substantially to the initiative.
Their endeavors were supported by various other cohorts, including those from 1985, 1994, 1995, 2005, and 2015.
The event ended with an urgent call for the government, corporate entities, and benevolent individuals to back OLA SHS in enhancing facilities and guaranteeing that pupils study in a suitable setting.
GNA
MA/BM
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