One of the Catholic Private Basic Schools established by the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer (HDR) of Accra providing holistic education in Ghana’s Eastern Region and fulfilling the vision and mission of Catholic Education is Our Lady of Fatima School at Kpong.
The Catholic Church has a vision to provide education based on Gospel Values and mission to contribute to the efforts of the government in the provision of formal education and the development of physical, social, intellectual, mental, moral and spiritual dimensions of the individual to become God fearing and imbued with the Gospel’s spirit of humility, service and love for one’s neighbour and country.
The HDR Congregation is an indigenous Catholic Women Religious Congregation based in Ghana founded by the late Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers, Divine Word Missionary, (SVD) in 1957 with education as one of its apostolates.
The School established in 2001 has had the following HDR Sisters as Heads: Sr. Gertrude Lucy Kwaku, 2001-2004; Sr. Clare Spencer, 2004-2006; Sr. Genevieve Ofori-Atta, 2006-2011; Sr. Gifty Amoah Godwyl, 2011-2016; Sr. Marcellina Kotorchie, 2016-2021 and Sr. Paulina Osei, 2021 to date.
Five HDR Sisters are currently working in the School instilling some Catholic practices and discipline in the pupils. They are Srs. Paulina Osei, Headmistress; Diana Gyemfuah, Housemistress; Mary Jo Ocansey, Accounts Officer; Mary Felicity Adarkwa, in charge of school uniforms and Charles Lwanga Sesenyon, in charge of School canteen,
“As the Church has been commanded by Christ to preach the Word of God to the ends of the world, so we also participate in the Divine mission of the Church for the moral and Christian development of youth and adults especially of women by prayer, example, teaching of catechism, religious instruction and education at every level,” Sr. Osei told Newswatchgh.com.
The idea of establishing Our Lady of Fatima School was mooted by the HDR Sisters at the Annual General Meeting at Agormanya in the year 2000. This came about in fulfillment of implementing an article in our constitution which states that, we are to care for women and children in the Krobo land (locality) and in Ghana as a whole, Sr. Osei said.
According to her, the HDR Congregation decided to establish a reputable School to give first class education to the children, especially, the girls in the locality, under the able leadership of Sr. Consolata Agyepong, the then Superior General.
A declaration on Christian Education Gravissimum Educationis proclaimed by Blessed Pope Paul VI on October 28, 1965, says that in a special way, the duty of educating belongs to the Church, not merely because she must be recognised as a human society capable of educating, but especially because she has the responsibility of announcing the way of salvation to all men, of communicating the life of Christ to those who believe, and, in her unfailing solicitude, of assisting men to be able to come to the fullness of this life.
According to the declaration, the Church is bound as a mother to give to these children of hers an education by which their whole life can be imbued with the spirit of Christ and at the same time do all she can to promote for all peoples the complete perfection of the human person, the good of earthly society and the building of a world that is more human. Parents who have the primary and inalienable right and duty to educate their children must enjoy true liberty in their choice of Schools.
Under Catholic Schools, the declaration noted that “The influence of the Church in the field of education is shown in a special manner by the Catholic School. No less than other schools does the Catholic school pursue cultural goals and the human formation of youth.”
“But its proper function is to create for the School community a special atmosphere animated by the Gospel spirit of freedom and charity, to help youth grow according to the new creatures they were made through Baptism as they develop their own personalities, and finally to order the whole of human culture to the news of salvation so that the knowledge the students gradually acquire of the world, life and man is illumined by faith,” the declaration stated.
So, indeed the Catholic School, while it is open, as it must be, to the situation of the contemporary world, leads its students to promote efficaciously the good of the earthly city and also prepares them for service in the spread of the Kingdom of God, so that by leading an exemplary apostolic life, they become as it were, a saving leaven in the human community.”
In fulfilling the goals of Catholic education by creating opportunities for young people to achieve their potential through comprehensive religious, culturally-oriented and learned-centred education, the Our Lady of Fatima School which started with initial seven pupils in 2001 now has a population of 813 and a teaching staff of 35.
It has a vision to produce an acceptable and sustainable personality for a first class basic school education and mission to provide a sound academic, moral, spiritual and physical human development for all learners, equipping them with the requisite knowledge and skills to be resourceful and responsible in society.
The School has a boarding facility accommodating both boys and girls who form 20% and 80% respectively of the School population, endowed with qualified teachers with majority as Professional Graduates and Diploma holders, teaching at the Junior High School Department, while those at the Primary are Diploma holders or trained Kindergarten teachers with Mentees from Mount Mary College of Education to support annually.
Prescribed Ghana Education Service Programmes run by the School are Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, English Language, Ghanaian Language – Dangme and Akwapim Twi., French Language, BDT – Home Economics, Pre-Technical Skills, ICT (Information/Communication Technology), Religious and Moral Education, Physical Health Education, History and Our World Our People.
Academically, since the school started writing the final Basic Education Certificate Examination, (BECE) in 2010, the first batch of 22 candidates registered a 100% pass. There has been a sturdy improvement in their performances every year with high quality grades, making it possible for them to enter their respective first choice schools.
With the above results, the School was adjudged the 3rd best in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal, out of 64 schools presented by the Municipality. The 2016/17 batch raised the banner up high again, the school placed 3rd position out of 68 schools from the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality. The school has always scored 100% in the BECE. In 2021, 53 of the candidates presented scored 100% while in 2022, 52 candidates scored 100% and OLAF was adjudged the first in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality.
Some spiritual and social activities undertaken by the School include teaching of Catholic Religion, Catechism for Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation, the establishment of the Police Cadet Corps to help the pupils to understand the importance and duties of the Police Service in the communities, and also learn some safety tips for their personal lives.
Fighting against lateness, truancy, peer influence and other social vices, are some of the ways we instill discipline in the School, Sr. Osei said, adding, “We organise a number of social activities to commemorate African Union Day every year. This brings a lot of joy among the pupils as the speakers are selected from among them and others had role-play about activities of different African Countries.”
The headmistress said the School also organises Career Day every year to encourage the pupil and the students in their various profession of choice, adding, “We have also established a very vibrant and dynamic school choir that performs every Sunday during Mass and our special days.”
The School has a very strong Parent, Teacher Association (PTA) under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Patrick Worfa, as Chairman, and his Executives, who always visit the school to help deliberate on the pertinent issues and on the progress or the development of the School.
By Damian Avevor
