The Atorkor Development Foundation in collaboration with the Royal Masonic School for Girls, UK (RMSG-UK) have commissioned the Atorkor Early Years Education Centre at the Atorkor S. A Basic School in the Anloga District of the Volta Region.

The center is aimed at equipping children with the requisite knowledge at  their tender age in order to help them be well-prepared academically for the upper classes, and also to provide children with strategies that will help them develop the emotional, social and cognitive skills needed to become lifelong learners.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Dufia of Atorkor, Torgbui Akumey Geli Adjorlolo III, noted that the centre is well-resourced to provide effective and sustained educational, medical and social support to pre-school and school going age children.

Torgbui Adjorlolo noted that the medical support which will be provided by the Atorkor Development Foundation medical clinic and laboratory will involve assessing and monitoring their medicals such as immunisation status, sight, hearing dental and assessment/screening for any special educational needs.

Torgbui Adjorlolo added that the support will involve the assessment of parent’s educational background, the home environment and the possible impact on their education with the view of providing support mechanism and early intervention measures.

“This means every child enrolled at the center will have an educational plan detailing the kind of support needed to ensure successful education in Atorkor," Torgbui Akumey Geli Adjorlolo III said.

Mrs Adele Ruddock from the UK who has been a backbone to the development of the project and has spent time to make sure the project was successful noted that Early Childhood Education (ECE) prepares children in readiness for primary school, and develops holistically, their physical, social, emotional and intellectual needs in order to build a broad and solid foundation for their wellbeing.

She noted that it was great seeing the young children smile and play around joyfully, a sight which makes her and her people happy and delighted and will do more just to make sure the smiles remain on their faces and that of the community.

She expressed hope that the collaboration between the town and them continues to bring more developmental projects to the town.

Background

The relationship between Atorkor Development Foundation (ADF) and the Royal Masonic School for Girls (RMSG) started when Mr. David Evison, a member of the Empire Lodge introduced Torgbui Akumey Geli Adjorlolo III ( Dr Samuel Adjorlolo) to the then headmistress of the RMSG, Mrs Diana Rose.

The headmistress had earlier expressed her keen interest in forming a partnership with a school in Africa. Mr Evison who was a member of the Board of Governors of the school then informed Torgbui. Torgbui and Mr Evison were subsequently invited to address the whole school during their Assembly.

Torgbui spoke passionately about his beautiful Atorkor, the challenges facing the community especially education, the ADF development programs over the years including the volunteer programs and the mutual benefit in establishing the partnership.

The school then sent two teachers in 2010 to Atorkor to work with the Foundation on establishing the link. Their visit coincided with the visit of the group from the Central Baptist Chelmsford, UK who were in Atorkor to support the ADF to build the 3-unit classroom block for the Basic School. The two were impressed with the work of the Foundation in their report to Mrs Rose and the School.

The first trip by the group took place in 2011. This is the sixth visit by the group. The last visit with a group of 23 students and three teachers was in 2018. Unfortunately, the global pandemic meant no visit until now.

Over the years, the RMSG has supported the work of the ADF to improve educational standards as well as provide opportunity to members of the community access good education by donating on a regular basis, large quantities of educational materials-books, computers and providing sponsorship for girl students in Atorkor.

However, in 2016 the Foundation proposed to the school to support the construction of a new building for early years children. Madam Adele and Torgbui were invited to the RSMG where they visited their early years education department called Ruspini House.

Following the visit, the Foundation decided to construct an 8-unit classroom, 2-floor building with offices and toilet facilities. The sod cutting ceremony was done in 2016 when the group from the RSMG visited Atorkor.

The setting up of the centre is real milestone in Atorkor as it would transform the provision of education in Atorkor.