The Ghana National College in Cape Coast has held its 76th speech and prize-giving day, with a call on students to adopt efficient time management values.
Speaking on the theme, “Sustaining transformative education and discipline: The role of stakeholders,” the special guest of honour and a member of the 1964-year group, Ewurabena Ahwoi, said developing proper time management habits were essential to achieving set life goals.
She stated that one's ability to undertake tasks promptly while young, remained a valuable skill and a critical life asset essential for success.
Mrs Ahwoi underscored the fact that while time and its management were critical for success, time was an elusive and precious resource which, when not deployed effectively, could jeopardize lives, saying it often slipped away unnoticed.
She urged the students to be mindful of time and avoid procrastination's pitfalls. “Time passes quickly without us realising it,” she said, emphasising that delaying tasks could lead to missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential.
Mrs Ahwoi further urged the students to set good examples and adopt them as their actions would reflect in the future.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, Egbert Isaac Faibille Jnr., challenged the teachers to re-evaluate the school's pedagogy to sustain transformative education.
Mr Faibbille Jnr, who is also a member of the 1988-year group, explained that the free senior high school (SHS) policy would result in heightened competition after their WASSCE, as more graduates would be entering the tertiary institutions and encouraged the students to challenge themselves and aim for higher heights.
He also advised the students to be studious and dedicated to their studies, avoiding any conduct that could jeopardise their future.
Mr Faibbille Jnr, again, emphasised the importance of self-regulation in the age of technology and the Internet, noting that one's actions online could have lasting consequences.
The 1984-year group took the opportunity to present a 64-inch magnetic board to the school, specifically for science students, to enhance their learning activities.
The 2000 year group also cut the sod for the construction of a science hub for the school. The Project Chairman, Nana Kwadwo Frimpong-Badu, said that the hub would become the permanent training ground for the National Science and Mathematics Quiz team, which would, “provide a dedicated space for the students to prepare, train and thrive in their academic pursuits”.
The headmaster of the college, Joseph Ato Sarpong, stated that transformative learning was not a solo endeavour but required the collective efforts of all stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, staff, and the wider community, and therefore, appealed to everyone to play a part in shaping the learning environment and foster a culture of discipline, respect and inclusivity.
He noted that education was not just about academic achievement, and urged the students to develop resilience, empathy and a growth mindset to embrace challenges, ask questions and explore their passions.
The protocol head girl of the school, Phoruslla Tagoe, thanked all the teachers and staff for their dedication and expressed her gratitude to everyone who supported the event.
Staff and students who excelled in their various fields of endeavour were awarded with prizes