Looking back, 10 years after PRESEC!
“Happy are we. Studious are we…”! So begins the school anthem of the Presbyterian Boys’ Senior Secondary School, Legon. It was not an entirely happy three years spent in PRESEC Legon and neither were we all particularly studious!
But there is a lot to be said for spending three years in that great school. August marks a decade since my 2004 year group left PRESEC and it also coincides with our official inauguration as properly qualified Odadee.
PRESEC is well noted for the academic success of its students. We were a boisterous bunch of brilliant boys in our own right but we owe a lot to the teachers whose tireless efforts saw us through our examinations and personal development.
I am reminiscent of Mr Mohammed Alidu, Mr Boye-Badu, Mr Dwamena and Mr Peprah. Our then headmaster, Mr Joseph Jectey Asare (JJ), who always implored us to responsibility with his long, slow speeches. Nii Amon Kotey, whose nickname I refuse to mention here but has something to do with a cat.
Mr Jap Adu and his classic VW Beetle. The witty Mr Kofi Allotey, Mrs Charlotte S. Acheampong, who was mother to all, and Chaplain Reverend Ayensu whom we affectionately called “Rabbi”. I will, however, single out our Assistant Chaplain, Mr Brako Dompreh (DormPee), and our Senior Housemaster, Mr E. Ambrose Asamoah, for the indelible mark they have left on me to this day.
As President of the Quiz, Writers and Debaters Club, I recollect fondly how our hardworking group took PRESEC to the finals of the National Independence Day Debates.
Special mention should be made of the ‘Philosopher’ Samuel Jude Acquaah, Kwaku Frimpong and Kwabena Kusi-Mensah whose admirable efforts contributed in no small way.
I was also lucky to be a part of a group of talented young men on the PRESEC Editorial Board who produced our official school magazine, a feat which had eluded three previous boards before ours due to financial challenges.
It will surely be out of place to write anything on PRESEC without mentioning the National Science and Maths Quiz! One cannot be faulted for saying that we own that competition! PRESEC has won it five times since it began in 1994 and is the only school to have successfully defended its title as reigning champions.
Although my year group did not win the title in 2004, we placed third and remain proud of the group that represented us: the super trio of Michael Okaikoi, Alfred Solomon and Daniel Boadi Ameyaw.
PRESEC certainly did not have it all, though. Sadly, it faced infrastructural challenges during our time there and still does, even today.
We had some classrooms without windows and below average sanitary conditions because of our large numbers. Those were tough times but we soldiered on!
This mix of challenges and opportunities in PRESEC opened us to the realism of the world out there. PRESEC gave me a sense of confidence that has helped me greatly since I left it. The experience polishes you and strengthens you.
The Writer is a member of the 2004 Odadee Year Group and an LL.M Candidate, London School of Economics and Political Science.
