By Murtala Issah
President Akufo-Addo says the performance of students in the recently released Senior High School Certificate Examination has vindicated his decision to roll out the Free Senior High School policy.
He said the results shows that more students have qualified for tertiary education than before the implementation the Free Senior High School Policy. President Akufo Addo was addressing a Durbar to mark the 70th Anniversary celebration of the Tamale Senior High School.
Tamale Senior High School was established by the colonial administration in 1951 as the first Secondary school in Northern Ghana. The school started with twenty boys, but, by 1958, admitted its first batch of female students. The School has over the years produced some illustrious citizens who have served the World in various capacities. Politically, mention can be made of the President of the 3rd Republic, Dr. Hilla Liman, the late Former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the current Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumani Bagbin and Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas.
On the Legal Front, Tamale Senior High School has produced two Supreme Court Justices namely: Justice Joseph Bawa Akamba and Justice William Atuguba who are both retired. TAMASCO has also produced two Chiefs of Defense Staff, namely, the late Lieutenant General (Retired) Joshua Mahamadu Hamidu and Air Vice Marshal Samson Oje as well as the current General Officer Commanding the Northern Command, Brigadier General Mohammed Moses Aryee.
In Academia, the school can boast of Professor Amin Alhassan, who is also the Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and the first Vice-Chancellor of the University for Professional Studies, Professor Joshua Alabi.
TAMASCO continues to show its mettle in national competitions especially in the National Science and Math Quiz beating the likes of Achimota Senior High School and only losing to eventual winners of this year’s edition, Prempeh College. The population of the school has also increased from 20 in 1951 to 3,638 in 2021.
The increase in population has been attributed to the Free Senior High School Policy introduced in 2017 which has expanded access to Senior High School education for more students.
The theme for the 70th Anniversary celebration is “TAMASCO @70: Leading Secondary Education in Northern Ghana”. The Special Guest of Honor, President Akufo Addo, expressed delight at the achievement of the school including giving him Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
He used the occasion to extol the Free Senior High School Policy, saying the performance of the first and second batches of the initiative has vindicated his decision to introduce the program.
President Akufo announced plans to expand the Free Senior High School Policy to cover all first-year students of Technical and Vocational Training Institutes in the next academic year.
The Headmaster of the school Reverend Emmanuel Azeka commended the government and old students of the school for their support in expanding infrastructure. He appealed for support to complete some critical infrastructure projects initiated in the school as well as the renovation of staff bungalows.
The occasion was graced with traditional rulers, past and present students, personnel from the security services and members of the public.
