Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary

POPE JOHN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND MINOR SEMINARY – KOFORIDUA

1. VISION

To attain a high level of discipline, sound moral conduct and academic standards, without sacrificing physical fitness.

2. MISSION
As this is a Catholic Institution with a Seminary attached, we aspire to train the young boys put under our tutelage to become morally upright, physically sound and academically competent citizens to steer the affairs of the country at both secular and spiritual levels.

3. SCHOOL CREST AND MOTTO
The School has “Vela Damus” as her motto. The Latin expression means “We set sail”.

4. BRIEF HISTORY OF INSTITUTION
The school was formally opened on 21st January 1958. It was then known as St. John’s Seminary and College. It started with 45 students; 14 Seminarians and 31 Day students in two forms.
It is located at Effiduase on a parcel of land donated by the Effiduase Stool in the New Juaben Municipality. It shares a common boundary with St. Joseph’s Hospital, another Catholic facility.
From 1958 to 1968, St. Joseph College was operated as a private Catholic institution financed by the Catholic Mission and from the students’ fees.
On September 1, 1968, St John Seminary and College was absorbed into the Ghana Education Service as a government-assisted secondary school. Then the name of the school was changed to Pope John Secondary School and Junior Seminary in memory of Pope John XXIII.
The school telephone number is +233 (O)81 20265/081/21511.
The Founders Day of the school is 21st January, 1958 and the Golden Jubilee was marked on 29th November, 2009.
The school largely operates Boarding system. There are very few Say students; most of them opted for that facility. The school does not operate a Hostel facility because the authorities believe hostels could compromise on the standard of discipline for which the school is well-known.
Chronology Of Headmasters
a. Rev. A. J. Elsbernd – SVD 1958 – 1961
b. Rev. Amos Fredricks – SVD 1961 – 1974
c. Rev. Thomas Potts – SVD 1974 – 1981
d. Rev. V.M. Burke – SVD 1981 – 1984
e. Rev. Edmund Nomo – SVD 1984 – 1989
f. Rev. V.M. Burke – SVD 1989 – 1997
g. Mr. P. Ofori-Atta – 1997 – 2008
h. Mr. Isaac Lawer Odenteh – 2008 to date

5. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE YEARS
The school has chalked successes in the field of Academic work, sporting activities and other co-curricular activities. Some notable achievements, with dates are as follows:-
i) 2001 – Won National Science and Maths Quiz competition
ii) 2002 – Won National Debate Champions
iii) 2003 – VALCO Tournament for National Football Championship
iv) 2009 – Runner’s Up; Chairman’s Award
v) 2009 – Miss Fog (Microsoft Internet Safety and Security Focus) Winners
vi) – Winners; Eastern Regional Cadet Corps; Southern Sector

6. SCHOOL FACILITIES
(i) Academic facilities:
a) Classrooms – 36
b) Laboratories – 4 for Science and 2 for ICT
c) Library Facilities – There is the present one in which two classroom blocks were converted for that purpose and a modern library under construction.
ii) Non Academic Facilities
a. A large football pitch which also serves as an athletics pitch.
b. A volleyball and basketball pitches for relaxation and competitions.

7. ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

a) General Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Elective Mathematics
b) General Arts: – Economics, Geography, Elective Mathematics, Government, Christian Religious Studies, History, French, Akan
c) Business – : Accountancy, Business Management, Economics, Elective Mathematics/Business Mathematics, Costing.
c) Visual Arts: – Sculpture, Picture Making, General Knowledge in Art, Graphic Design and Economics.

8. CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The school takes keen interest in, and lays high premium on co-curricular activities. Sporting activities for example football, Athletics, Volleyball and Basketball.
Again the school has a vibrant Cadet Corps whose members are reputed for their smart turn-out. These disciplined young men have won laurels for the school. The Literary and Debating Society and a host of others enliven the atmosphere on campus.

9. STAKEHOLDERS:-
a) Old Students (POJOBA)
b) Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)
c) Traditional Authority (Effiduase-Koforidua)
d) The Koforidua Diocese of the Catholic Church
e) New Juaben Municipal Assembly