Old students of Bolgatanga Senior High School, popularly known as Tangabisi, in the Upper East Region of Ghana, have mobilized resources to rehabilitate the Ampofo and Mandela dormitory block.
Speaking to the media during the official handing-over of the renovated dormitory blocks to Bolgatanga Senior High School, Mr. Ayine Abiiro Timothy, National Vice President of Tangabisi, said the exercise marks a celebration of unity, sacrifice, service, and the enduring relationship between an alma mater and its old students.
He commended Tangabisi for the initiative.Mr. Ayine Abiiro Timothy stated that the renovation was made possible through the collective contributions of various year groups.
He explained that although the contributions from each year group may differ, together they have produced a significant and lasting impact that will benefit the entire school community.“Your commitment sends a powerful message that the responsibility of building our alma mater does not end when we leave the school gates,” he said.
While celebrating the achievement, Mr. Timothy noted that Bolgatanga Senior High School still requires further infrastructural development.He said several existing facilities need renovation and rehabilitation, stressing that providing quality education requires a safe, decent, and conducive environment for teaching and learning.He therefore appealed to the Government of Ghana to support the school with the necessary resources to renovate some of its ageing infrastructure. Established in 1970, the school is now about 56 years old, and many of its facilities have developed serious cracks that need urgent attention.
Mr. Timothy also appealed for the construction of a perimeter fence wall around the school. He said a proper fence would help protect the school’s land and property from encroachment, strengthen security, and define a clear boundary for the institution. He added that it would also support effective school administration and help curb unauthorized movement and indiscipline within and around the school environment.
He further called on all Tangabisi year groups that have not yet contributed to kindly do so. According to him, “every contribution, regardless of its size, is important and will go a long way toward restoring the deficit in our investment fund, and hopefully raising it beyond its previous level.”Mr. Timothy urged the students to take good care of the facilities, noting that people who once sat where they are sitting today made sacrifices to improve their sleeping environment.
He also encouraged students to study hard, maintain discipline, respect teachers, and become worthy ambassadors of the school so that one day they too would become old students and continue the tradition of giving back.
Mr. Michael Zoogah, organizer of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), who spoke on behalf of the PTA Chairman, expressed gratitude to the old students for the support.
He described the intervention as timely and said it would improve students’ living conditions.
He urged students to obey teachers and school authorities so that they would graduate with good certificates. He also encouraged students to take pride in becoming part of the Tangabisi family stating that wherever they go, they should confidently identify as proud members of Tangabisi.
Mr. Zoogah indicated that the PTA would soon call for another handing-over of a similar project, following the example set by Tangabisi.
Mr. Laar Peter, Upper East Regional Branch Chairman of Tangabisi, noted that the school began at the then Zuarungu SHS location in 1970 and later relocated to the current spacious site at Winkogo in 1975.
He explained that the school was founded as BOSS, coinciding with two other schools in the country—Bompata and Boamponsem Secondary Schools—which used the same acronym. According to him, a decision was taken to change from “Big” to “Big Boss” to avoid confusion and disassociate the school from the others.
He said Tangabisi received the appeal for renovation as a timely opportunity to contribute to the alma mater, even though scattered membership slowed progress. He praised all stakeholders for completing the project through joint financing by contributions from the various year groups.
Mr. Peter also congratulated authorities and students for electing the school’s first-ever girls head prefect in the 56-year history of the school.
He urged students to uphold discipline and encouraged them to channel grievances through the prefects to management rather than taking matters into their own hands through riots.He lamented that Bolgatanga Senior High School’s strong track record in academics and sports especially in NSMQ competitionsseemed to have reduced in recent times.
However, he encouraged students and stakeholders to invest in strategies and resources to help Tangabisi see Big Boss return to higher stages at national levels.
Mr. Mohammed Sani A3 (1970 batch), a member of the first batch of Bolgatanga Senior High School, spoke about the school badge. He noted that the original badge design seems to have changed over the years, and he observed that students now wear different versions that differ from the original.
He stated that he is the designer of the school badge and clarified that what is on his smock is the correct original badge.
He appealed to the school community to stick to and preserve the original badge design.
Source:mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Adongo Ayuureneeya