It was a scene of relief when old students of Toase Senior High School in the Ashanti Region, came to the aid of their alma mater which is currently grappling with the stress of stark inadequacy of furniture for students.
Established in 1971; the student population of the Toase Senior High School in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality has grown to six thousand seven hundred students.
Its location on the major Kumasi Sunyani Highway has made it a school of choice for students from the Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo and Bono East Regions.
With this swell in numbers; the school’s amenities and facilities have gone overstretched; a major concern being furniture.
Headmaster’s Remarks:
Head master Joseph Britwum told GHONE News, although uncomfortable, the school is compelled to use benches and very old broken furniture to augment its lack of beds and desks.
“The student population has grown now because people love the school but government alone cannot solve our problem of furniture. I need about thousand five hundred desks for my problem to be 90% solved,”
““We are managing with benches and other materials. We also have other old, old furniture but they are not so comfortable,” he told reporter Ivan Heathcote – Fumador.
Receiving 200 new mono-desks, Mr. Britwum expressed his gratitude to the 1998 year group for demonstrating their support towards the continuous development of the school and asked other old students to emulate same.
“This morning I am a happy man. I would want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the old-students 1988 year group for your generous donation of mono desks to our school. The desk will undoubtedly enhance the learning environment for our students and I appeal to other year groups to follow the example set by the class of 1988,” he commended.
1988 Old Students:
The 200 pieces of mono desks were handed over to the school in a short colourful ceremony graced by old students, teachers, the school cadet and a cross section of students.
Secretary to the 1988 Alumni association, Kojo Appiah Odei advised matured citizens and the affluent public against abandoning their struggling alma maters.
““We are calling on other year groups to also give back to Toase Senior High School. Where ever you are today and whatever you have become; you cannot take away the impact that Toase Secondary School made in your life,” he advised.
He further thanked the 1988 TOSS old Students for contributing to make the donation possible especially in the very difficult months of December and January where household and academic expenditures are usually at their highest.
Students Appeal
Sharing their concerns with GHONE news, the student’s appealed for governments support to provide adequate furniture and expand their assembly halls, dormitories and studying facilities in the school.
Elijah Ohene Darko senior boys’ prefect stated, “It’s been a long time since we got new desks. What the 1988 year group has done will really help us because our numbers have increase. We urge government to also come help us in terms of infrastructure.”
The schools population has increased creating problems for us by way of infrastructure and furniture. What the 1988 group has done will help in diverse ways. Since we are serving some 7000 students now, we need help with our assembly hall for holding school programs,” Obed Gyimah Odoom Asamoah, a first deputy head boy appealed.
The furniture which cost the old students in excess of 200 cedis per piece, will go a long way to augment teaching and learning activities as the Toase Senior High School awaits more support to adequately serve its huge student population.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Ivan Heathcote–Fumador
