By: Rachel Quartey & Rukayatu Musah
Holy Child School marked its 80th anniversary with a strong call to deepen investment in girls’ education, as Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening educational foundations across the country.
Speaking at the 80th Anniversary Speech and Prize-Giving Day in Cape Coast, Central Region, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said advancing girls’ education remains central to the government’s vision, stressing that strong tertiary education must be built on a solid secondary school foundation.
She noted that preparing young people for the future is not only about technology but also about values, warning that intellectual skills without integrity become fragile and incomplete.
“Intellectual skills without integrity become fragile. A school that develops both strengths produces leaders. Looking at these students, I am reminded of similar institutions founded on strong base principles too. They demand excellence. They have always recognized that educating girls is a national strategy, and your team today is fitting. But even as we celebrate progress, we must acknowledge the work that remains. Our next chapter must include more women leading research, shaping public policy, driving technology, excelling in entrepreneurship, and finding success wherever they choose to be,” the Vice President stated.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang explained that the government is placing renewed emphasis on foundational learning as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s education system. She added that new school facilities are being programmed to support early learning while the standard-based curriculum is being reviewed to incorporate emerging technological fields such as robotics, coding, and artificial intelligence.
“The standard-based curriculum is being reviewed in light of robotics, coding, and artificial intelligence tools, with a focus on ethics and responsible digital citizenship,” she said.
The Vice President also praised the legacy of Holy Child School, noting that the institution has nurtured generations of women who have served the country with distinction in various fields over the past eight decades.
“You started from humble beginnings, but the school has expanded over the decades into a prominent and respected educational institution. You have nurtured generations of women who have served our country with distinction, whether in education, medicine, law, public service, business, the arts, or faith leadership,” she said.
She urged students to uphold the tradition of discipline, integrity, and excellence that has defined the school.
”My dear students, you stand within a tradition of women who worked hard and expected much of themselves. Develop your mind, guard your integrity, and use your voice carefully and deliberately. Your country will need both your intelligence and your judgment,” she advised.
Responding to concerns raised by the school’s headmistress about infrastructure, staffing, and logistics, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang assured the school of government support, including the provision of a bus.
”For 80 years, if what you ask for is a bus, then you should get that bus,” she said.
The Vice President also commended the alumni for sustaining the school’s legacy and supporting development initiatives, particularly praising the 2001-year group for initiating a sustainable water supply project, which she described as practical and impactful.
“By choosing a project that addresses such a critical need, you have demonstrated that legacy is not only symbolic, it is structural,” she noted.
A representative of the Minister for Education also highlighted the role of education in national development, stating that institutions such as Holy Child have played a critical role in shaping women with intellectual strength, moral character, and leadership ability. He, however, expressed concern about the growing incidence of examination malpractice and moral decadence in schools and called for collective efforts to restore discipline in the country’s educational system.
The anniversary celebration, held under the theme “80 Years of Developing Globally Impactful Women of Substance,” brought together government officials, alumni, parents, students, and other dignitaries to celebrate the institution’s legacy.
