Deputy Education Minister, Dr Clement Apaak, has lauded O’Reilly Senior High School as a pillar of educational excellence as the school celebrates its Centenary Founder’s Remembrance Day.
Delivering remarks on his behalf by the Director of Tertiary Education, Ministry of Education, DrEmmanuel Newman, during the Centenary Founder’s Remembrance Day Celebration last Friday, the Deputy Minister said the achievement was not just a milestone of longevity but an indication of the lasting impact of the school on generations of Ghanaians.
He praised the school’s resilience in overcoming challenges and grooming students for national leadership.
“For one hundred years, O’Reilly has stood as a beacon of educational excellence, weathering the storms of history through colonial times, independence, and the various challenges that have shaped our nation.
“Through it all, this institution has remained steadfast in its commitment to nurturing young minds and building character, he said.
On academic excellence, Dr Apaak said the school had to be proud of its performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The deputy minister reserved praise for the school on co-curricular activities, applauding the performance of old and current students in Athletics and Showbusiness.
“But excellence at O’Reilly extends far beyond academics. This school has produced athletes who have represented Ghana on international stages, artists who have enriched our cultural heritage, and citizens who embody the values of integrity, service, and patriotism that define the best of what it means to be Ghanaian,” he said at the gathering.
During his speech, the deputy minister admitted that the second-cycle institution had challenges, adding that the government was “not oblivious to them”.
Among the difficulties cited are a lack of adequate infrastructure, resource constraints, and the demands of modern education.
He said the Mahama-led administration was committed to making “education better”.
Dr Apaak also expressed appreciation to the alumni and parents of learners for their support, which he noted had contributed immensely to the school’s legacy of excellence.
The deputy minister urged the school to embrace the sweeping change of the digital era by “embracing technology while preserving the timeless values that have made it great”.
The centennial anniversary was well attended by education officials, alumni, staff, and students at the school.
O’Reilly SHS was established in 1925, during the colonial era, by a Sierra Leonean Anglican Priest, Rev Ezekiel Festus O’Reilly. It is the fourth-oldest school in Ghana.
The school, which is located in the Ledzekuku-Krowor Municipality, has produced several successful alumni.
