History of Senior High Schools in Ghana: Saint Augustine’s College (Part 2)

On January 15, 1935, the foundation stone was laid by the then Governor, Arnold Hodson and blessed by Bishop Porter with support from the Bishops of Keta, Navrongo and Kumasi.

Construction work progressed steadily and almost a year after, the training college was transferred to Cape Coast.

A year and week after the laying of the foundation, St Augustineā€™s College admitted its first batch of students (145 in number) under Fr Maurice Kelly as the first headmaster.

It is worthy of note that both the secondary school and the training college operated together.

Through its eight-decade existence the college has definitely gone through its proud moments and challenging ones. Nevertheless its motto, (Omnia Vincit Labor) has  spurred it on through thick and thin by reminding its proponents that hard work truly conquers everything.

Today, St. Augustineā€™s Collegeā€™s pride of place has been achieved through hard work, dedication and passion.

It has been achieved through the tireless efforts of teaching and support staff and willingness and desire of students to learn. Augustinians can be found in leadership in almost sphere of life: from academia, business, sports, industry, you name it.

For the institution, the achievements are too many to highlight

All we can ask, is for our younger brothers currently in the great college and those who will soon join to understand this great tradition so that when the schoolā€™s story is being written after 150 years, the same exploits will be recounted.

Always remember our motto: Omnia Vincit Laborā€”ā€˜hardwork conquers allā€™ Mbo Ogesten!!!!

Prof. Francis Werner Ekow Ofei ā€” Guest Speaker

Giving back to St. Augustineā€™s College

As has been the tradition of APSU, the Class of 1992 hosted the 87th anniversary of the college, after 25 years of completion.  They adopted the then Arts and Biology blocks and the Music Department.

The Art and Biology block is the most used academic facility on the campus located to the west of the Quadrangle.

It is made up of two separate single-storey blocks joined by a short walkway.

It originally served as Clinic, Art Hall, Tuck Shop, Science Laboratories and offices for teachers and the Laboratory Technicians. With time however, the clinic was moved to the basement of St. Georgeā€™s/St. Lukeā€™s block and another room added for the teaching of Fine Art.

When the Junior Science laboratory was constructed in the 1950s and dedicated to the teaching of Physics and Chemistry, the two Science Laboratories were re-designated as Biology and Agricultural Science laboratories.

Following an appeal by the headmaster of the school and a remarkable display by the school band, the year group included the music department to its project.

This department can be located below St. Patrickā€™s and St. Stephenā€™s dormitories, overlooking the then ā€˜Augusco marketā€™.  Our classmates studied music in the class in the junior years in the school.

These structures have been dilapidated particularly due to the effects of the erosion and usage over the years.  Having been adopted by APSU 92, these structures have been refurbished to bring it up to standard. These have been stocked with laboratory equipment including beakers, human skeleton, to mention a few.

THE END

Source: http://African-research.com

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