Health, History, Education, Articles, : St Vincent School Bechem (Blog)

HISTORY OF ST. VINCENT SCHOOL

St Vincent international school is a private institution located in Bechem, Tano South District, Brong Ahafo, Ghana West Africa. The school was established by

Rev. Fr. Vincent Glennon, SMA in September 1984.
The aim of the school is to offer Christian training and quality education to the children and also to assist the needy children in the society especially those whose parents couldn’t pay their school fees to gain knowledge, the school was based on catholic domination.

In 1984, Mr. James E. Anomah, a retired trained teacher was employed to start the school. He started to teach in the small parish hall with five pupils each paid five hundred old Ghana cedis (₵500.00) (currently 50 pesewas) per a term. With the increase of the pupils’ population, Fr. Vincent Glennon SMA built permanent classrooms behind the audit office. He employed advanced sixth formers, O’ level candidates and MSCL who were smart, fluent and eloquent in expressing their views to teach in the school.

In September 1990, St Vincent JHS was established with the same aim as the primary school. The Junior High School (JHS) started with only eleven students; five boys and six girls. The JHS is located opposite St Joseph’s training college, Bechem. The staff were; Rev. Sr. Mary Galancher – acting head mistress; Mr. Anthony Fobi – Social Studies and Gen. Science tutor; Mr. Augustine Aworo Nyantakyi – Cultural Studies tutor; Mr. Agbozi Titus – Mathematics and French tutor; Mr. Poku Anthony – Agricultural science tutor; Ms. Margaret Mensah – life skills; Mr. Peter Oppong Attah – Twi, who also helped Fr. Vincent Glennon with some logistics such as teachers’ tables, textbooks, desks and other equipment to begin the academic year.

In 1992 – 1993 the student’s population grew up from eleven to 24 pupils while the acting Headmistress was transferred to St. Hubert Seminary. After her departure, Rev Fr. Vincent Glennon appointed Mr. Anthony Fobi to continue the administration of the school with the maximum support and dedication of the teachers the first batch of eleven students 1991 – 1994 obtained 100% in the BECE examination. The Second batch of nineteen candidates obtained 100% with aggregate six. During his tenure as head for 15 years the school always had 100% in the BECE and his last year before he left they had 100% with 13 distinction. During these years additional teachers were employed to increase the scope of learning. These teachers included; Mrs. Oti Akenteng – English tutor @ St. Joseph’s Training College (Josco), Mr. Adu Appiah – Science Tutor, Mr. Alex Acheampong; R.M.E who was replaced by Mr Aworo and Mr Anning from Josco to teach Technical Skills. Rev. Fr. Vincent Glennon motivated the teachers and pupils to attend Church service. He also required the children to do grounds work after school.

In 1997, Rev. Fr. Vincent Glennon was asked to go for Sabbath leave by Bishop James Kwadwo Owusu of Sunyani Diocese, after his departure an interim board was set up to control the administration of the school. They were: Mr. L.K. Danquah – former church president: Ms. Georgina Kwakye – treasurer; Mr. Anthony Steffen Fobi – secretary; Mr. J. E. Anomah – member. The interim board worked for only three months and in 1998 a new Parish priest, Rev. Fr. Joseph Badu – Ameyaw was assigned at St Joseph Parish and became the school local manager.

It was in the same year 1998 that the Bishop of the Diocese of Goaso, Rt. Rev Peter K. Atuahene DD, invited the religious of the Virgin Mary Congregation (RVM) to take charge of the administration of the school. The congregation assigned Rev Sr. Ma. Evangelina Negrosa, RVM as the school headmistress and Rev Sr. Ma. Josefina Cabrera, RVM as the school bursar. They were introduced by Rev Fr. Joseph Badu – Ameyaw to the whole teaching staff in September 30^th 1998 and they started to report to school in the October 5^th 1998 From this time onwards the RVM sisters are directly in charge of running the school from the year 1998 to the year 2000 and Beyond, the school board governors and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) were formed to express their views in day to day administration of the school. A new school building with three classrooms, staffroom for the staff and office were put up. School records were put in orders. Water supply was made available for both primary and jhs sections.
In addition, school facilities and materials were procured for a smooth running of the school and to improve the quality of education. It is with great hope that the school will continue to be faithful to her aim and for those who pass its portals be imbued with Christian values.

VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT OF THE SCHOOL

St Vincent school, a catholic diocesan school established in 1984 and governed by the board of governors has for its vision and mission the holistic formation of young boys and girls

GOAL

It’s goal is to achieve academic excellence and good moral behaviour that will prepare the young for higher studies, face the challenges of life and be productive in the development of the community, the country and the human society as a whole.

School Anthem

Saint Vincent school
Shall reign forever
Always brave and truth
We shall attend to our duties
We shall never fall God with us
So far so good oh great St Vincent always brave and truth
Sincerity and truth we cherish
We shall never fall God with us.

RECORDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

St. Vincent is known for making records in Tano South District. Since the establishment of the school, it always gain 100% in the BECE examination. The school can boast of being the first institution to own a state of the art computer laboratory and also the first school to own a library in the Tano South District.

students under taking handy art lectures in the library

In the field of sports too it has won so many inter schools competition trophies.

Winner of Inter Schools ' sporting activities

Again the school has won so many Independence Day matching competition (6^th March). It is also the school which has won most inter schools debate competition which is held between catholic private schools in the Goaso Dioceses.
In the field of academics, It is the first school in the district whose student has won the presidential independence academic award as the best pupil of the 2012 basic education certificate examination.