By Politico staff writer
The Bo Government Secondary School, alma mater of current President Julius Maada Bio has observed its 114th annual speech day and prize-giving ceremony in the city of Bo. Founded in 1906 for sons and nominees of Paramount Chiefs, the school has turned out students that have later assumed influential positions in various spheres of life.. The school has its fraternity dubbed OBBA for Old Bo Boys Association that has existed for 92 years and has membership right across the globe. The outgone OBBA President and Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Alpha Tejan Wurie informed the gathering that Bo school is the “answer to the country’s quest for national cohesion.” He recalled how boys used to come from all over the country to get high standard secondary education at Bo school and that the brotherhood built over the years has helped to foster national unity in a country where tribalism has threatened to divide the country. He categorically said: “Bo School (OBBA), is not a tribal or regional entity”.
In his annual school report, the Principal Edward Kpakra explained how the growing demand by parents for their children to access the school has led to the school being over stretched in terms of capacity. This has created challenges in the running of the school. He however assured parents and guests that the school remains committed to maintaining discipline which is key to success. “To maintain the quality that the school is renowned for we have resorted to setting stiff and competitive criteria for admission into Junior and Senior Secondary levels of the school.” They have instituted a teacher-monitoring system to make sure teachers are regular and punctual at the all-boarding boys school.
He spoke about having started negotiations with the Theophilus William Foundation Trust in England to make scholarships available for hard working and deserving pupils in order to maintain the standards of the school. He thanked the President Julius Maada Bio for ensuring that the sick bay is built and completed in time. Keynote speaker, Dr. Sheku Sesay reiterated the call for national unity and cohesion as that was the foundation upon which Bo School was built and reminded all to continue to build on this.
Gracing the occasion, President Bio officially commissioned the sick bay with modern and state-of-the-art medical equipment. The sick bay is also manned by a qualified medical practitioner. President Bio also went on a conducted tour of the school facilities and expressed satisfaction over the improvement of the water supply facility in the school premises. Bio concluded his interaction with his alma mater by having lunch with the pupils in the school dining hall.
This year’s ceremony was chaired by Amara Sowa with school admission number 3947 , who is the National Programme Coordinator, Free Quality School Education Project in the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (09/04/21)
