It was a family affair at the launch of the 110th anniversary of St. Francis Xavier Teachers Training College in Accra on Thursday March 22 when current and old students of repute met, fraternised and shared fond memories.
The year-long planned anniversary will be climaxed with a grand durbar on November 23, 2019.
The celebration is under the theme: ‘A Century and a Decade of Catholic Teacher Education; Achievements, Prospects and Challenges’.
At the launch of the anniversary at NAGRAT hall at Adabraka, the principal Mr Raphael Kwashie christened the anniversary with a slogan “Franco @ 110; We shall Celebrate” an indication of long years of churning out disciplined and excellent teachers which filled the education gap with professionals who impacted students and mother Ghana at large.
He said “This is how far the Lord has brought us and we shall Celebrate a century and a decade of holistic student development”.
He indicated that the student population currently stands at 1,176 from the 30 students it started with in 1908.
Mr Kwashie called on all year badges of old students to give back to their alma mater while expressing gratitude to groups that have extended gestures to the college over the years.
“An anniversary of this nature is solely an event for past students to look back at their alma mater and recall their college days, how life was, where they are today and ask whether Franco ever played a part in where they are today and ask how often they think about Franco” he added.
The guest of honour at the launch, Energy Minister John Peter Amewu reminisced how the basic school with teachers from that college impacted his life.
“Though I didn’t attend the college, the teachers from the college impacted my life with the discipline in the college’s demonstration school. We need to indeed celebrate this milestone together”.
He granted the students their request of a power generation plant and cash support.
“I have directed that the campus be installed with streetlights to make the college bright. I’m a doer and not a talker. I have heard your request and I’ve granted it” he added amidst cheers from the gathering.
The anniversary launch which marked the beginning of the celebration outlined that as part of activities, old students are to visit the school to undertake various activities coupled with donations aimed at solving some challenges of the college.
Former Volta Regional Minister and MP for Krachi West Hellen Ntoso unveiled and auctioned the new anniversary cloth. As an old student herself, she pledged 3000 library books with cash for the celebration.
She entreated students to imbibe the discipline and knowledge being impacted by their tutors stating that the school remains the best teacher’s training college in the country.
The anniversary activities include inter-college sports, quiz, a visit to the German Embassy to pay homage to the founding fathers.
St. Francis Xavier Teachers Training College was founded in 1908 by the German SCD missionaries and called St. Augustine’s College. It was closed and reopened for the third time on February 14, 1947 and named St. Francis College with St. Francis Xavier as the Patron Saint.
Source: 3news.com | Ghana