NANDOM SENIOR HIGH LAUNCHES 40TH ANNIVERSARY (PAGE 11)

THE Upper West Region may not be endowed with a lot of natural resources as compared to the other regions in the country, but through the immense contributions of the Catholic Missionaries who settled there, the region can boast many educational institutions, some of which could be said to be among the best in the country.
In 1968, through the vision of the late Archbishop of the Northern Diocese of the Catholic Church, Peter Cardinal Porekuu Dery, the then brothers of Immaculate Conception (FIC) decided to establish a secondary school in Kaleo, in the present Nadowli District.
The students population of the school, now known as the Nandom Senior High School (NANSEC), grew from an initial number of 38, when it started in Kaleo to 617 students in Nandom.
The school chalked up academic successes during the period students sat for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary and Advanced levels, which even came with very outstanding results, particularly in 1976.
This was the case until the commencement of the new educational reforms in 1990, which came up with the Senior Secondary School (SSS) system and the current Senior High School (SHS) system.
Addressing a durbar during the launch of the 40th anniversary of the school, the Headmaster, Rev. Bro. Nicholas Zumana, said in 2006 and 2007, 116 out of 218 and 180 out of 225 candidates respectively, qualified for admission to tertiary institutions
“These successes were achieved in the face of difficult conditions with respect to infrastructure and human resource” he noted, and pointed out that infrastructure facilities of the school had seen little improvement over the past 40 years.
He, however, commended the government for the construction of three new dormitory blocks for the school, and appealed for more facilities to be provided.
Rev. Zumanaa further stressed on the need to improve on the water system, lights, roads and the transport needs of the school.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr George Hikah Benson, who graced the occasion paid a glowing tribute to the Catholic Church for its vision to establish the school .
He commended the staff of the school for their immense contribution towards the growth of the school and urged them to do more.
Mr Benson said the government would improve the conditions of teachers as well as institute measures for them to build upon their capacities.
He, therefore, advised teachers to take advantage of the interventions of the government to improve their lot.
Touching on discipline, Mr Benson advised students to uphold high moral standards and study hard.