Day 6: Ashaiman Secondary High School

“Ashaiman Secondary High School: Modernization calls for change”

After months of imagining what Ashaiman Secondary High School (ASHS) might look like and developing a program in my mind of ways to work with the student population, it all finally came to fruition today when we met with the Headmaster of ASHS, Emmanuel Fiemawhle and Assistant Headmaster III (of Social Welfare), Michael K. Gbologah. ASHS is a 3-year private school (the Government currently requires 3 years of secondary education). Students apply for admission to ASHS in their final year of primary school and are accepted into one of four subject specific programmes: Agricultural Sciences (Horticulture, Fisheries), Visual Arts (Graphic design), Home Economics (Clothing & Textiles, Food & Nutrition, Management & Living), and General Arts (choose 3 from: History, Geography, Economics, Government, Literature, Christian Religious Studies, Music, or Language: French, Twi, Ga/Dengme, Ewe). All students complete core coursework all three years in English, Mathematics, Integrated Sciences, Social Sciences, and Physical Education. Of the programmes offered, General Arts accepts the largest class of 155 students; followed by Agriculture of 90 students; Visual Arts and Home Economics both accept 45 students each year. Because space is limited, programmes can be competitive.

The school was formed in 1991 with two teachers, thirty students and offered two programmes: Agricultural Science and Vocational Studies (which consisted of Home Economics and Visual Arts). Land was obtained from the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation. I am not sure if it was government mandated, donated, or purchased, but I believe it may have been government related. Because the land was then full of motor mechanics, the first set of students spent much of their time removing abandoned scraps and generally cleaning up the space. Obviously, students did not complete normal academic work during this time. Also, classrooms did not have yet have furniture. The only complete structure on the building at that time is the current Science classroom. The current main classroom block of four rooms was then being constructed.

The two teachers, anxious to get started with academic work, went to the local community seeking furniture for the classrooms. Various tribal unions donated benches and planks which were then places on piles of cement blocks to serve as classroom tables and chairs. This worked, temporarily, though students were getting hurt when the benches or planks would drop. Ouch!

The school has grown rapidly over the past 15+ years and now consists of four main classroom blocks. Classrooms are open aired, but covered with a tin roof. Classrooms do not have overhead light and rely on the sunlight. Most rooms have desks and a chalkboard, however some rooms are overcrowded. As many as 70 students may be in one class at a time. The school has over 1000 students, 48 teaching staff, and 21 non-teaching staff (administrative, cleaning, security). There is a canteen on site where students may purchase food for breakfast and/or lunch.

A typical day for an ASHS student is as follows:

7AM: Arrive to compound. Tidy up classrooms, stair cases and immediate surroundings of school.
7:25 – 7:40AM: Morning Assembly on Mondays and Fridays
7:35 – 8:15AM: Worship on Wednesdays
8:25 – 9:45AM: Class Session I
9:45 – 10:15AM: Morning Break. Canteen open and some students eat a snack or breakfast
10:15 – 11:35AM: Class Session II
11:35 – 12:55PM: Class Session III
12:55 – 1:15PM: Afternoon Break. Canteen open.
1:15 – 2:35PM: Class Session IV
2:35PM: Day ends and students may leave for the day.
2:45 – 4:05PM: OPTIONAL Class Session V which most students stay at school for the extra learning. (It is not tutoring for remedial students; it is an extra class option in which most students willingly participate)

There are several rules that students must follow that were surprising to me. Girls, for example are not allowed to perm, press, blow, or have her hair chemically treated. No hair accessories such as ribbons, combs or clips are allowed. No make up, including nail polish, is permitted nor is jewelry, such as bangles, chains, rings, or beads allowed. Boys cannot blow or wear their hair bushy and a beard or moustaches is ‘strictly forbidden.’ Boys are also not allowed to wear chains, rings, or caps. Neither boys nor girls are allowed to wear “dark goggles,” which I assume are sunglasses. Severe consequences are in place for various offenses. In most cases, the first offense results in a warning or suspension and second offense is dismissal. Exceptions include sexual misconduct, assault of staff, pregnancy or abortion which results in immediate withdrawal or dismissal. I wonder how rules around sexuality are administered. Are boys dismissed if they impregnate a girl (which should fall under sexual misconduct)?

In many ways, walking on this compound today reminded me of stories from my grandmother of her experiences in school – single classrooms, corporal punishment, gendered practices. It feels like I am in a movie in the 1940s sometimes.

The school is still in need of basic infrastructure for their students. The science lab needs tables, chairs, and basic teaching/learning materials (for example, there are no beakers, no periodical table of elements, etc.). The visual arts department needs a working space (with overhead light), drafting tables (or other appropriate spaces for creating arts), and a darkroom where screens could be developed and reproduced. The math department needs teaching/learning materials (workbooks, multiplication tables, etc.), calculators, and graphing sheets. The social science department needs classrooms, geography materials (maps, globes), and teaching/learning materials (updated textbooks). The agriculture department needs fencing for land, teaching/learning materials, and reference books.

Despite the challenges and needs of the school, several students go on to pass final examinations and gain admission to the Universities, Nursing Training Colleges, Teacher Training Colleges, and Polytechnics. Despite not having a field for training, ASHS male and female students and teams have won local sports competitions in cross country running and volleyball.

For our programme, the Headmaster would like for us to work with both boys and girls focusing on goal setting and reaching your goals. He said many of the students struggle with determination and motivation. My group (3-5 of us) will be going into every classroom for a little over an hour to lead these workshops. I will also provide training for the Peer Consulate group who can carry on these workshops. I will develop a curriculum and training manual they can use in the future. I am also going to work on setting up a pen-pal program for students. My colleagues will work more directly with staff to provide training and consultation. In addition, he requested our assistance with website development and gathering needed supplies and materials. We have a lot on our plate!

We had a late lunch at Agbamami Restaurant in Tema where I tried to have some soup and salad. I had not been feeling very well most of the day. I still was pretty achy and tired and had another sweating spell. Over the past couple of days I have been having sweating spells where I just start pouring sweat, even if I am in air conditioning. Strange. I thought some soup or a light lunch might help. It really didn’t.

Later in the evening, we went to a fancy dinner at The African Regent which dubs its’ self as the “Afropolitan.” We had a full buffet with options ranging from Mediterranean to local cuisine. Tonight was supposed to be our working dinner planning time for our projects. Unfortunately our Headmaster could not make it. I was so hungry but did not have an appetite. I tried to get down a piece of bread before having my first round of diarrhea. Shortly after I had another sweating spell. I had talked with one of my colleagues about how I was feeling – she became concerned and told our PD who then informed me I needed to go to the hospital because I may have malaria. Awesome.

Reluctantly I went to the local hospital, Nyaho Medical Centre. The hospital reminds me of a military type facility. All white, older looking buildings. The lobby is outdoors (covered, but hot and sticky). I filled out a one-page intake form and was ushered to another waiting room where a nurse took my blood pressure and temperature (with an old school thermometer that she dried off with a napkin before sticking under my armpit). After that I was called into the Doctor’s office. The Dr. asked what my symptoms were; I told him. His diagnosis: beginning signs of malaria. I didn’t think malaria could show up so soon, but he said it could show up as early as 3 days to 1 week. I have been here 6 days today…so, I, of all people, apparently managed to get myself bitten by THE malaria mosquito basically upon arrival. Awesome. I was given a prescription of Artrin and sent on my way. All in all, the cost of the visit with prescription was 39 cedis (about $28). Good deal. I’m going to rest tonight and hope I am better tomorrow. They want me to stay home and rest, but I really do not want to miss tomorrow’s lectures: Indigenous Religions, Spirit World, and Ancestors; and Ancient & Contemporary Art. I am so stubborn sometimes.