The management and board of the Swedru Senior High School have initiated strategies aimed at positioning it as a grade A institution, as per the Ghana Education Service school grading system.
The strategies would integrate cutting-edge technology to support teaching and learning initiatives targeted at achieving new heights of excellence in education at the school.
The Chairperson of the school's board of governors, Dr Elizabeth Wyns-Dogbe, who made these known in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said through partnerships with mentor schools locally and internationally, they aim to provide teachers with continuous professional development opportunities, ensuring they remain at the forefront of educational best practices.
She added that targeted intervention programmes would offer additional support to students struggling academically, with a focus on core subjects.
“We are also pioneering a student feedback mechanism to enhance teaching quality and implementing data-driven decision making processes to tailor instruction to individual student needs,” she added.
Dr Wyns-Dogbe indicated that such innovations extended beyond academics as the board plans to expand the school farm to provide essential food items all year round.
As part of the strategies to promote teaching and learning, she said the board and management would also work to enhance infrastructure and particularly construct modern sports facilities to promote physical well-being.
The Swedru Senior High School (Swesco), at Agona Swedru in the Central Region, has made great strides in its 65 years of existence and continues to remain a shining light illuminating the paths of many Ghanaians into guided careers.
The entrance of the Swedru Senior High School
It was in a bid to bring quality education to the doorsteps of Ghanaians that Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, established the Ghana Education Trust to promote the establishment of secondary schools across the country, with Swesco as the first of such schools to be established.
The mission of the Ghana Education Trust was to help establish more second-cycle institutions to absorb the large numbers of school pupils who had benefited from Dr Nkrumah’s free Universal Primary Education programme launched in 1951.
The purpose of the GET schools was also to provide quality education as close as possible to the locals and inculcate in the students values that engender good moral character, integrity and empower them to be responsible citizens after school.
The foundation stone for Swesco was laid on June 28, 1958, by the then Minister of Trade and Industry, Kojo Botsio.
Old students of Swesco are nicknamed piesie, meaning first born in Akan, because it was the first of the GET Schools.
The school has to a great extent lived true to its motto Semper cum Optimis, a Latin expression meaning ‘Always with the best’ and worked to produce men and women of high standing in all spheres who are contributing to making the country great.
Swesco has also maintained its credible performance, particularly in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).
The school has four houses of residence which are the Kwame Nkrumah House, Kweku Antwi, De-graft Johnson and House Four and a student population of about 5,000.