Source: Augustine Mawutor Egbenya
Adjei Kojo TWMA 1 Basic School’s second speech and prize-giving day attracted several dignitaries, including the Chief Executive and the Member of Parliament for the Tema West Municipal.
The event, an opportunity to share the school’s achievements, challenges, and plans with parents, other stakeholders, and the government, also put smiles on pupils’ faces by rewarding their excellent performances.
The Adjei Kojo TWMA 1 BASIC, formerly known as Adjei Kojo TMA school, was officially opened to the public for admission on September 10, 1997, with a total enrollment of 240 pupils at the time.
Miss Julia Rachel Kporha was the first head teacher of the primary school.
Miss Mercy Amponsah became the first head teacher of the Junior Secondary School (now Junior High School) a year later.
Pupils from Adjei Kojo, then a newly created community, and several surrounding settlements, depended on Adjei Kojo TWMA 1 BASIC for their foundational education development.
By the 1999-2000 academic year, enrollment had almost tripled. This situation compelled the Tema Metropolitan Assembly education directorate to approve a shift system for the school, Adjei KOJO TMA 1 and 2, using the existing structures.
The school commenced with a six-unit block at the eastern part of the primary department and later a three-unit block without a roof, for the JHS in the southern sector.
Teachers had to mobilise people to go about cutting some neem trees and leaves for making a shed over one of the uncompleted JHS classrooms. Various interventions led to the completion of the three-unit classroom building.
In 2006, another three-unit block was built on the northern part of the school campus. This progress reduced the enrolment pressure on the school.
In 2016, ten years later, other buildings were constructed for the school. This included a six-unit block on the western part and another three-unit block on the southern part. These additional structures resulted in abolishing the shift system at the end of 2016, as there was enough learning space to accommodate all pupils from the primary to JHS levels.
The metropolitan assembly later built a one-storey twelve-unit block and handed it over to the Adjei KOJO TMA 1 and 2 on 3rd February 2022 to accommodate the increasing learner population.
The current total enrolment of Adjei Kojo TWMA 1 Basic School alone stands at one thousand three hundred and ten (1310). The primary department comprises 12 classrooms with 15 teachers; the JHS side has 12 classrooms with 17 teachers, and the kindergarten has 4 teachers, totalling 37 teachers, including 5 national service personnel.
The school is noted for making greater strides. It ranks among the best-performing schools in the Tema West Municipality. It has chalked up successes in academics, athletics, sports, and other extracurricular activities.
Miss Olivia Soglo, Mr Kofi Mensah, Mrs Dorcas Atta Petters, Mrs Rahinatu Aforo Adams, and, currently, Mrs Faustina Ohene Agyemang have all contributed immensely to the success and growth of the community school. The school is now 28 years old, which is not a mere achievement.
It has produced many human resources for mother Ghana, some of whom are now doctors, lawyers, nurses, police officers, teachers, engineers, bankers, and accountants, to mention but a few.
The school will be grappling with an estimated enrolment of over three thousand five hundred (3500) by 2030 unless the government provides additional infrastructure.
Mrs Fuastina Sophia Ohene-Agyemang, the headteacher of TWMA 1 school, delivered her welcome address on “Twenty-First Century Education, Our Heritage.”
This theme invited stakeholders to reflect on the current state of education and its significance for the present and future generations.
Mrs Fuastina Sophia Ohene-Agyemang said, “Education in the 21st century is not just about reading, writing, and arithmetic. It comprises developing critical thinking, digital literacy, creativity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. The world has changed, and so must our approach to teaching and learning. Our children are growing up in a rapidly evolving global environment, where knowledge is dynamic and innovation is key.”
She further stated that as a school, they were committed to equipping the pupils with the skills, values, and knowledge they need to thrive in the modern world.
The head teacher added that the school had made a conscious effort to integrate technology into classrooms, promote collaborative learning, and encourage problem-solving approaches.
But beyond these academic pursuits, she said the school strives to instill discipline, respect, patriotism, and a strong sense of unity in the students. “The idea that education is our Heritage reminds us that we are caretakers of a powerful legacy. What we teach today, how we guide our children, and the environment we create will shape the society of tomorrow,” Mrs Fuastina Sophia Ohene-Agyemang stressed.
Academic Achievements
In the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE), the students have notable performances. In 2019, two students achieved an impressive aggregate score of 6. In 2020, 2021, and 2023, their best aggregate scores were 8. However, their 2024 results fell below the previous years.’
The school also participated in various competitions, including the ICT competition, where one pupil placed 3rd in the district. The school again took part in the annual academic showdown in areas of maths, English, social studies, and computing, and reached the quarterfinals.
The learners excelled in areas beyond extracurricular achievements. In the 6th March 2020 competition, the school emerged as the winner in the maiden edition for the Tema West municipality.
In sports, the school hosted an inter-school football tournament and won in both the JHS and Primary boys categories.
Additionally, they participated in athletics at Klagon School, placing second in JHS and first in primary categories.
Challenges
Nonstudents, particularly town boys, have turned the school campus into a playground during contact hours; they throng the compound on motorcycles, racing up and down. The loud cheers from the riders, engine noise, the gears shifting, tire-pavement interactions, body vibrations, even some familiar rattling, and the noise the motorcycles produce distract attention during teaching and learning.
Drug abuse, truancy, elopement, and hooliganism among students hinder learning progress.
The activities of land encroachers have left little space to build more classrooms on the school compound. As such, the learning spaces are usually congested.
Basic 2B and 3B pupils are currently occupying rooms meant for other purposes.
Miss Juliana Adjololo, the girls’ prefect of TWMA 1, acknowledged the contributions of stakeholders. She also urged support to expand its infrastructure.
The Member of Parliament for the Tema West constituency, Hon. Lawyer James Enu, said that students’ attitudes nowadays are unacceptable in society; most of them imitate habits and deviant behaviour due to peer pressure and poor parenting.
He appealed to parents to monitor their children’s behavioural changes and take the necessary steps to help them become good future leaders. He also urged the teachers to ensure discipline at school to enhance teaching and learning.
The MP pledged to work with the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) to support the security and infrastructural development of the school.
The Tema West Municipal Education Director, Mr Issac McCathy Mensah, said the municipal assembly has advanced plans to prevent the school land encroachment by building a fence wall around the compound.
He advised parents to embrace religious harmony, collaborate with school authorities to improve discipline among learners.
- President Commissions 36.5 Million Dollars Hospital In The Tain District
- You Will Not Go Free For Killing An Hard Working MP – Akufo-Addo To MP’s Killer
- I Will Lead You To Victory – Ato Forson Assures NDC Supporters
Visit Our Social Media for More
About Author
