Presbyterian Senior High School, Bechem

PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, BECHEM

Post Office Box 81, Bechem, Tel: 03521 22025

1. VISION

Our vision is to make the school a first class one whose products are known to be of high academic excellence high moral character and have holistic education.

2. MISSION

To build an institution where staff, students and other workers work harmoniously to fulfill the expectations of all stake holders

3. THE SCHOOL CREST

The crest has the triple heritage of Basel institution, Scottish institution and our Noble institution.

The Basel institution heritage is represented by the white cross on a red background symbolizing the hanging of St. Andrews on the cross.

The Scottish institution heritage is represented by ‘x’ cross on a blue background.

The book represents our Noble institution, wits and intelligence

Blue and white colours make us pure and chaste purged by His noble blood

Motto:

“Persevarantia superat”

“Perseverance endures”

“Modenbo ma nkunim”

4. SHORT HISTORY

The Presbyterian Senior High School, Bechem was established in 1966 as a result of the appeal the Late Nana Fosu Gyeabour I, the Omanhene of Bechem Traditional area made at the Annual Presidential Christmas Party at the Peduase Lodge in 1965.

rd On the 23 February, 1966, the school was formally th opened a day before the 1966 coup on the 24 February which saw the end of the rule of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The first Headmaster was Mr. K. Awuku Yirenkyi. A cocoa shed served as the classroom block, while a story building along the main road which accommodated Bechem branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank also served as a dormitory for both boys and girls. The school started with 11 staff:

In November, 2006, the school celebrated its 40^th Anniversary. It was a one-week activity packed celebration, and was graced by a high-powered Clergy of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Ministers of State, and more importantly representatives of the Golden Stool and the Presidency.

The school is situated at the Western end of the Bechem Town on the Sunyani Road.

5. IMPORTANT EVENTS

The school celebrated some important mile stones  including the 25 Anniversary in 1991, 40  Anniversary, 43 Anniversary and many speech and Prize-Giving Days where different kinds of awards were given to Teaching and Non-teaching staff for hard work and long and dedicated service.

The school chalked so many successes ranging from Academic to sports. The school won the Regional Milo Championship competition in football in the year 2001 & 2004. We are currently the regional volley champions.

The school also won the Northern Sector of Kofi Annan Centre ICT Championship in 2007.

6. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE YEARS

The school has a computerized system for reporting on students activities, exams, monitoring continuous Assessments, etc. The school has 3 Over-head Projectors for teaching & learning. The school for 3 consecutive years from 2007 has emerged champions of the Regional Constitutional Game.

7. SCHOOL FACILITIES

The school has 17 permanent classrooms. One Science Resource Centre and One Science

Laboratory, we have two Computer Labs with one fully furnished with computers, The school has a big well furnished Assembly Hall that can sit 1500 students with staff and invited guests during official programmes.

We can boast of a partially equipped Home Science Department. We have a library which is rather too small for the students population. The school has a Clinic with the required equipments but no Nurse.

The school has football field, 2 volley ball courts and a basket ball court including a handball court.

Vodafone Ghana has installed phone booths on campus students teachers and other residents.

8. ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

Agriculture Programme: General Agriculture, Physics, Chemistry, Elective Mathematics

Business (Accounting Option): Business Management, Business Mathematics & Principles of Costing, Principles of Accounting, Economics, Elective Mathematics

Home Economics Programme: General Knowledge In Art Management In Living, Food and Nutrition Chemistry

VISUAL ARTS: General Knowledge in Art, Graphic Design, Sculpture.

General Science:  Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Elective Mathematics, French

General Arts: Asante Twi, Geography, Economics, History, Government, Elective Mathematics, General Knowledge In Art, French

9. CO-CURRICULA ACTIVITIES

The religious groups include:

• National Union of Presbyterian
• Students-Ghana (NUPS-G),
• Pentecost Students & Associates (PENSA),
• Ghana Methodist Students Union (GHAMSU),
• Catholic Students Union (CASU),
• Ghana Muslim Students Union (GMSA), SCRIPTURE UNION (SU), and
• School Choir.

Social groups include:

• Red Cross Society,
• School Cadet,
• Debating Club,
• UNESCO Club,
• Foundation for future Leaders Club,
• Cultural Troupe, School
• Brass Band.

These groups organise debates, symposium, educational trips (Excursion), general cleaning, workshops, quiz and games.

10. STAKEHOLDERS
11. Old Students

The Old students donated six jumbo dustbins and also assisted us with books as prizes to the students.

1. Parents-Teacher Association (PTA)

The Parent-Teacher Association is the main backbone of the school.  It donated one wooden truck and managed to fence the school with a wall to prevent truancy and scare thieves from the area. It pays motivational allowances to the teachers as a recipe to effective teaching and learning. It sometimes gives loans to some teachers whose salaries delay with approval from the Accountant General’s Department. The PTA is currently manned by a five member executives with Mr. Turkson Sakyi as the Chairman.

iii     Presbyterian Church Of Ghana

The Moderator, Rt. Rev. Dr. Yaw Frimpong Manso visited the school in 2009. In 2009, the General Assembly of the church donated GH 2000 towards the rehabilitation of the school’s Administration Block.

1. Traditional Council, . District Assembly & Member of Parliament

The establishment of the school was initiated by Nana Fosu Gyeabour I, Bechem Manhene. Since then the traditional council has taken lead in most crucial decisions of the school. The District Assembly and the Members of Parliament have also contributed to the current developmental records of the institution. They offer financial supports to the school, scholarship and other incentives to students