St. Monica’s Senior High School in the Ashanti Region has marked its 79th Anniversary and Prize Giving Day with a renewed commitment to quality and holistic education.

The event, held under the theme “Quality Education: Embracing the Dynamic and Holistic Approach in the 21st Century,” celebrated the school’s long-standing legacy as one of Ghana’s leading institutions for training influential women.

Headmistress, Dr Cynthia Asamoah Gyimah, observed that the school’s growing population has increased challenges affecting teaching and learning.

She noted that over 4,000 students have no assembly hall, as the dining hall currently serves as the venue for all major gatherings, disrupting academic and administrative activities.

She further mentioned the school’s lack of a minibus for official duties and called for urgent support to ease these constraints. 

“Management, Staff and students will be very glad if the office of the president would give St.Monica’s Senior High School a Christmas gift of a minibus to help counter our travelling challenges. The current student population of 4,300 has necessitated the urgent call to the government to construct an 18-unit classroom block for the school. This will help the school move from double-track to a single-track. I’m also making a special appeal for the government to provide the school with 1,000 classroom desks to overcome the current congestion tag the dormitories and classrooms,” she said.

Responding to the concerns, the Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and Keynote Speaker, Hajia Shamima Muslim, assured the school of the government’s readiness to address the infrastructural needs. She announced plans to provide a 66-seater bus, a modern assembly hall capable of accommodating over 4,000 students, and other essential infrastructure.

According to her, these interventions reflect the government’s broader commitment to strengthening the education sector for national development.

She also expressed worry over the rise of sexually transmitted infections in the country, especially among young girls, stating that many now “fear pregnancy more than HIV/AIDS,” a trend she attributed to increasing sexual irresponsibility among the youth. 

“HIV/AIDS is increasing among youth populations because young people are engaging in irresponsible sexual practices where they choose not to protect themselves. Young people seem to be more fearful about pregnancies than they are about sexually transmitted diseases like HIV and AIDS. 150,000 new HIV infections were reported in 2024, last year alone, in Ghana. Nobody is safe when none of us is safe,” she said.

Linking the theme of the celebration to national educational goals, Hajia Shamima encouraged students to fully embrace holistic education, one that nurtures emotional intelligence, empathy, responsible decision-making and personal growth.

She cautioned that the modern world is becoming increasingly individualistic, making empathy more essential than ever in fostering responsible citizens.

The event brought together notable government officials, proud old students, including those sponsoring awards and the entire school community. Many former students used the occasion to motivate current learners, urging them to remain disciplined and committed to their academic journey.

Chairperson for the event, Madam Frema Osei Opare, expressed confidence that Ghana is progressing steadily in its educational reforms. She recalled how long and difficult the academic journey used to be in her days, noting that the current system now allows students to progress more efficiently from senior high school to the tertiary level.

She praised the country’s ongoing transformation in technical and vocational education, describing it as a sign that Ghana is “on the right path.” 

“For the university education, more girls were coming in, and at some point, it was 40% girls to 60% men. This is just about two months ago, when I had a group come to interact in our mentorship session of the Frema foundation, and they’re telling me that the girls are outnumbering the men. So frankly, because of all the affirmative action activities that have gone on over the years, it’s bearing fruit,” she explained.

Madam Osei Opare advised the students to pursue holistic education beyond the traditional “chew, pour and forget” style.

She encouraged them to research, explore, and make meaningful contributions to their communities. 

“The education is holistic, it is not about imbibing the subjects and say, chew, pour and forget. We’re in a world where you need to also educate yourself beyond the classroom,” she added.

The 79th Anniversary celebration of St. Monica’s SHS not only honoured the school’s achievements but also reinforced its commitment to shaping young girls into empowered, responsible and impactful women for the future.