You know it’s a great school by the kind of envy it attracts. It was either your dream or get over it.
Opoku Ware School, Akatakyie.
“The SCHOOL” – as many refer to them.
My mom used to call them Opoku Tintin (Ware, meaning taller) for a reason. And yes, they stand tall among their peers.
Established on the 28th February 1952, Opoku Ware School consisted of about 60 young boys who gathered at the forecourt of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Kumasi, between the hours of 9 am and midday.
The story as narrated by an old student Rodney Nkrumah Boateng – AF 147, continues that these excited and curious young boys waited to be bussed to their new school, a new Catholic institution at Santasi, Fankyenebra a suburb of Kumasi.
Apparently, the celebrated Priest and first Headmaster of the school Rev. Father P. R Burgess, an Oxford graduate, a retired army major and a native of Ireland, had everything figured out.
With Father Burgess, the boys were in good hands, he wrote.
Fast forward to 2020 and beyond, Opoku Ware School is in the safe hands of REV. FR. S. O. SEKYERE, the current Headmaster.
Like all other 2nd Cycle educational outfits in Ghana, the school offers a three year Senior High School course.
There are about 6 or 7 distinct core subjects that make up the National Curriculum: English Language, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, ICT, RME and PE. There are four specialized Elective programmes as well, General Science, General Arts, Business and Visual Arts.
Table of Contents
Opoku Ware School Reviewed
Come to think of it, if you wanted to enjoy Secondary school education in Asante, you had to travel south across the Pra River to find a school in the colonial-influenced Cape Coast.
Why?
Because there was no government secondary school in Asante by then.
When was this?
We’re talking about the 1950s where education was a privilege for a select few. How many people could afford or have the opportunity to enjoy this luxury then!
Therefore, there was the need to establish a government secondary school in Asante. And who else would spearhead this all-important agenda. The Catholic church took charge and offered to make this dream a reality.
AGENDA: “A befitting Catholic Secondary School in Asante where Catholic doctrines and Asante culture go hand in hand”
Of course, you cannot have it all in Asante.
Your doctrines, OK.
But our identity – “Our Name”.
Opoku Ware School named after the then Asante King, Opoku Ware 1 was born.
One of the many occasions where Asante culture and Catholicism marry perfectly.
About “OWASS”
With their motto, “Deus Lux Scientiae”, meaning “God is the Light of Knowledge” you’re assured of several Latin phrases and scripts. And yes. They never disappoint.
Opoku Ware School, established in 1952, is an all-boys Catholic boarding school in Kumasi, Ghana. The school was named after the Asante King, Otumfuo Opoku Ware I.
Its alumni are known collectively as Akatakyie, an Asante word meaning “Conquering Heroes”.
After a decision was made to build a Roman Catholic Mission Secondary school at a meeting held on the 31st January 1951. The government was mandated to provide all the funds for the building of the school.
The school was developed according to a ten-year development plan with a final cost estimated to be about £250,000. Well, that’s some good money even now.
The project was estimated to accommodate about 360 students in capacity with a future probability for expansion to 6th form.
As of the 2019/2020 academic year, the school offers 4 courses (Science, Business, General Arts and Visual Arts). The school has a little over 4000 student population, 6 science labs and 200 staff members.
OWASS has its official colour as blue and yellow, and have won the National Science and Maths Quiz for 1997 and 2002.
A Tortoise as their Mascot with an anthem “All Hail Opoku Ware School”
The school offers five (5) courses or programmes;
- General Science
- General Arts
- Business
- Home Economics and
- Visual Arts.
All programmes have a duration of three (3)years to complete. Again the curriculum consists of six (6) general core subjects:
- English Language
- Integrated science
- Mathematics
- Social Studies
- ICT
- E
There are specific elective subjects relative to the programme/course a student may be offering.
Pros
- Discipline
- Tight security
- Sports friendly
- 85% Graduate rate
- In the heart of the city
- Good teacher to students ratio
Cons
Never considered females as an option.
Opoku Ware School Reality Guide: Things to consider before making a decision
Cost
What is the cost of attending Opoku Ware School?
Sex – Boys
Religion – Christian(Catholic)
Campus
Opoku Ware School has as at the last count – 10 dormitories that house students on campus.
- St. Paul
- St. Matthew
- St. Mark
- St. John
- St. Peter
- St. Luke
- St. James
- St. Philip
- St. Thomas
- St. Andrew
For student’s needs (academic work and upkeep), there are over 70 classrooms and counting, a dining hall, 13 Science laboratories, 3 well-furnished libraries. a science resource centre, computer centre, language laboratory, and French and German languages teaching centres.
There is an administration block for official duties.
For staff, there are about 41 staff bungalows, which consist of a block of eight flats and quarters for junior administrative staff, cooks, and pantry boys.
There are There is also a staff canteen, a chapel, a dining hall, and a sickbay.
Academics
Courses
Opoku Ware School offers the same country-wide “signature courses” in General Science, General Arts, Business, Home Economics and Visual Arts.
All programmes have a duration of three (3) years.
There are six (6) core subjects: English Language, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Information Communication Technology (ICT), Religious and Moral Education (RME) and Physical Education (PE).
GENERAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
The General Science programme has Physics, Elective Maths, Chemistry and Biology as the elective subjects.
HOD: Mrs. Lydia Opoku Acheampong
Total Teachers: 46
Total Students: 800+
Course Duration: 3 Years
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
The Business programme has Management/Accounting/Human Resource Management and Elective Maths as the elective subjects.
HOD: Mrs.
Total Teachers:10
Total Students: 400+
Course Duration: 3 Years
GENERAL ARTS DEPARTMENT
The General Arts programme has Geography as the elective subjects.
HOD: Mr. Emmanuel Asiedu
Total Teachers: 36
Total Students: 500+
Course Duration: 3 Years
VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT
The Visual Arts programme has Painting as the elective subjects.
HOD: Angela Owusu-A.
Total Teachers: 06
Total Students: 200+
Course Duration: 3 Years
Administration
The administration of Opoku Ware School is spearheaded by the Headmaster who is a Catholic priest and supported by three Assistant Headmasters in the Administrative, Academic, and Domestic fields.
Other very important supervisors consist of the Chaplain, School Accountant, Counsellor and Bursar.
These are the members of the core school management running the day to day activities of the school.
HEADMASTER: REV. FR. S. O. SEKYERE
ASSIST. HEADMASTER ADMINISTRATION: MR. KWAKU YEBOAH SNR
ASSIST. HEADMASTER ACADEMIC: MR. KOFI GYASI NIMAKO
ASSIST. HEADMASTER DOMESTIC: MR. ANTHONY AGYAPONG
Reputation
With a unique identification system, every student, upon entering the school, is given an identifying code composed of letters (determined by the student’s year of entrance to the school) and a number.
On-campus, most students are known by their numbers rather than their real names. E.g. a student admitted in 2005 and registered as the 431st student is given the number BJ 431. A student admitted in the subsequent year and registered first is given the number BK 1.
OPOKU WARE SCHOOL has a number of sister schools. Prominent among them is ST. LOUIS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
School Anthem
IN MANUS TUAS DOMINE.
ORIGINAL VERSION
IN MANUS TUAS DOMINE
IN MANUS TUAS DOMINE,
COMMENDO SPIRITUM MEUM
IN MANUS TUAS DOMINE,
COMMENDO SPIRITUM MEUM
REDEMISTI ME, DOMINE DEUS VERITATIS,
IN MANUS TUAS DOMINE,
COMMENDO SPIRITUM MEUM
GLORIA PATRI ET FILIO,
ET SPIRITUI SANCTO.
IN MANUS TUAS DOMINE,
COMMENDO SPIRITUM MEUM.
Credit: John Hulede Z 7, AF 310
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