The management of Methodist Senior High School in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of the Western Region is urging stakeholders to consider transforming the school into a single-sex institution with boarding facilities.
This proposal stems from the ongoing challenges the school is currently facing.
Madam Grace Eshun, Headmistress of Methodist Senior High School, emphasized that this change is essential for effective administration and to foster impactful outcomes that will promote sustainable growth and development within the school.
She made this important call while addressing dignitaries and stakeholders during the school’s recent 40th-anniversary celebration at Kansaworado, a farming community in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.
The 40th anniversary celebration had the theme “Equipping 21st Century Students with Holistic Education: The Role of Stakeholders.”
Madam Grace emphasized that the theme highlights the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in preparing well-rounded individuals for the complexities of the modern world and cross-cultural interactions.
She stated, “Considering the new curriculum and the global economic, political, social, and technological dynamics, we could not have chosen a more relevant theme.”
Madam Eshun acknowledged that this proposal is “transforming the school into a single-sex institution with boarding facilities” and is complex and requires thorough consideration and consultation with all involved parties.
In her address, she highlighted the current needs of the school, which include an assembly hall, a well-equipped science laboratory, transportation for internal activities, and housing for the headmistress and other staff members.
Additionally, she pointed out the necessity for an appropriate administration block, a security fence, a dining hall with a kitchen, a library, and more classrooms.
Despite these challenges, Madam Eshun expressed pride in the significant achievements the school has accomplished in various competitions within the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis and the Western Region over the past few years.
She remains optimistic that the results from the 2024 WASSCE will be on par with or better than those from 2023.
While highlighting MESEC’s inspiring achievements in various competitions, the Headmistress reported that the school won first place in the 2024 Zonal Peace Competition and secured third place among 16 schools in the Western Region. The school also placed first in the zonal, regional, and international Arm Wrestling competitions, achieving fourth place in the heavyweight division in 2022 and 2023.
Moreover, Methodist Senior High School earned second place in the 2022 regional Onga Cook Arts competition and also finished second in the 2024 Sekeva Transnational Cook Arts Festival and the 2024 Festival of Creative Arts organized by the Ghana Education Service. Notably, MESEC achieved first place without any competitors in the latter.
In addition, Madam Eshun mentioned several strategies adopted to improve learning outcomes, including an ongoing program called “Drop Everything and Read” (DA), digital learning through television, and discussions on literature books. They also designed a questionnaire for students to rate their subject teachers, followed by accountability sermons to management.
Other strategies included analyzing semester results to prompt teachers to defend their students’ performance, intensifying classroom observations and monitoring, and introducing a “Question of the Week” initiative, where students solve mathematics and science questions in class, with top-performing classes receiving awards at the end of the semester.
In her closing remarks, Madam Grace Eshun recognized the contributions of late, previous, and immediate headmasters who laid a solid foundation for Methodist Senior High School during its 38-year journey in its former location near the Western Naval Command in the Sekondi Constituency. She acknowledged their efforts in building a legacy of academic excellence and holistic education.
The management of Methodist Senior High School expressed gratitude to the Sekondi Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana, Tullow Ghana Limited, Mr. Charles Bissue (NPP PC – Essikado-Ketan), Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah (NDC PC – Essikado-Ketan), and MESEC Old Students for their unwavering support in helping the school thrive.
By Benjamin Bray
