Our Lady of Mercy (OLAM) Senior High School (SHS) in Tema on Saturday celebrated its 10th anniversary with a call on educational institutions to partner stakeholders in their various communities for support to ensure rapid development of their schools. Mr Fosuaba Banahene, Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) who was the guest speaker at the ceremony, which also marked the school’s speech and prize-giving day noted that schools that depended solely on their resources did not promote growth. The anniversary is being observed under the theme: “Ten years of educational partnership, prospects and challenges”. The OLAM Catholic Church in Tema Community one established the school with the late Reverend Father Francis Beemsterboer and late Aloysius Hoguth as founders. He said as much as the GETFUND was determined to support the educational institutions to develop, the authorities must also make conscious efforts to complement it since government alone with its numerous commitments cannot shoulder all the responsibilities. The administrator expressed delight to note that ten years of existence of OLAM had seen fast development but said more needed to be achieved and encouraged the authorities to go into partnership with the industries in Tema. Mr Banahene urged teachers to upgrade their skills to be able to impart quality knowledge to students who should be given adequate training for them to become competent citizens to contribute significantly to developmental growth in their adulthood. The Administrator advised students against the speaking of Pidgin English and rather learn the language very well since every subject; either Arts or Science revolves around the English language, adding that without it, they cannot perform better in any subject. The Accra Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop, Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer Buckle advised students against indulging in social vices that tend to mar their lives and rather lead upright lives to brighten their future. He admonished them to cultivate the habit of self-discipline, have respect for authority and every religion and take advantage of the facilities available to develop their talents so that they can contribute adequately to their own growth and national development. In an address read on her behalf, Mrs. Victoria Opoku, Tema Metropolitan Director of Education asked students to always obey rules and regulations of the schools as they are in place to instill discipline in them. This, she noted, would go a long way for them to have respect for the laws of the land when they become adults. In a welcoming address, Mrs Roberta Mary Appau, headmistress said the school which started with nine teachers, 157 students now has a student population of 630 offering general arts/science, business and vocational subjects. She said it ran as a Catholic private school and was absorbed into the public system in 2001 Prizes were given to students who excelled in their various subjects. Nii Adjei Kraku the II, Chief of Tema urged parents to create congenial atmosphere in the homes for their children to study and also visit their schools regularly to monitor their performance. Nii Kraku had earlier presented a cow and crates of soft drinks worth GH¢1,000.00 to the school. Source: GNA