St John Bosco’s College Of Education @ 60

St John Bosco’s College Of Education @ 60

Introduction: the St John Bosco’s College of Education is situated at Navrongo in the Kassena –Nankana District of the Upper East Region. It is one of the renowned colleges in the country that started in 1930 when it was known as Mary Immaculate Conception Junior Seminary under the then Reverend Father Gagnon. The name St John Bosco’s Training College was named after the Patron Saint –John Bosco who was a saint and a friend of the youth during his life time. He was born in 1815, in a town in Northern Italy called Turin by two poor couples. His father died when he was at the age of two leaving him, the surviving mother and the brothers in a very poor state. Due to financial difficulties his poor mother had a very tough time sending him to school though Bosco had the desire of going to school with the aim of becoming a priest. The mother through her religious commitment was later fortunate to win the heart of a retired priest who expressed his readiness to teach Bosco privately. After a while the priest fell ill, but before his death he called Bosco and gave him a substantial amount of money to cater for his education. Bosco after the death of the priest also handed the money back to the priest’s family because he felt he was not entitled to the money leaving him in dire poverty again. Bosco had complete confidence that the lord would see him through despite the challenges. He later worked as a farm labourer and earned some money to enter the secondary school. At school Bosco was mocked, bullied and intimidated by the students. His entire colleague came from rich families and they continually made fun of him because he also wore tattered clothes to school. Through thick and thin, Bosco passed through secondary school successfully, and was adjudged the best in class after the final exam. Bosco as a youth himself was an Apostle of youth. He was a magician, musician and above all an acrobat. He excellent display of skills earned him the motto” No prayer no display” since the children always flocked to witness his display. Bosco’s admission charged was, one decade of the rosary. After his second cycle education, Bosco proceeded to the major seminary and was ordained in 1841 at the age of 26. His first appointment as a priest was chaplain to the prison for young people.
The prison experience gave him some ideas for his system of preventive Education which he developed later. Once Bosco took all three hundred prisoners out on a long walk and none of them tried to escape. Bosco’s interest in the youth particularly the unemployed attracted hatred and criticism from his colleague priests. They did not understand the reason behind Bosco’s love and interest in wayward boys. Through him most of the youth at that time, mostly street children, were fortunate to acquire requisite skills, mainly carpentry. Saint John Bosco apart from getting the youth training skills also inculcated in the youth the fear of God which helped to instill discipline and moral upbringing among the youth. Since the college was into the training of the youth, the then superior of the institution, the late Father Gagnon deemed it appropriate to name the college after the saint, John Bosco as the Patron Saint. Bosco was chosen by founders of the college because they felt that he would be an ideal role model for students and teachers, and that the story of Bosco’s life would inspire the students to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to the teaching vocation. The college since its name, has adopted the acronym BOSCOS. Within the nook and crannies of the region, the school through its academic credentials then became popular especially in the area of sports and other Educational Institutions. The secret behind this success chalked was due to the suffix “Co”, very soon most institutions added “CO” to their names. We now have names like BATCO, TATCO, AKROTCO, TUTCO, NAVASCO and the rest scattered all over the country. But until 1933, the seminary was occupying a place now known in the Navrongo Mission as Carpentry Shop. A senior seminary, St Mary Junior Secondary School by the middle of 1936 was attached to the seminary to meet the great demands of application most of whom wanted to receive higher education. A year later, a two year –teacher training course, the first training college in the then Northern Territories was also started along side the Junior Seminary and the senior secondary school. The training college has since metamorphosed into a cert B, Cert A, Specialist Training College in Arts Education, a post three –year Cert A College, and now into a Diploma college in basic education. In January 1946, there were four institutions of learning in St John Bosco’s. These were the Major and Junior Seminaries. The senior school and the training college which was opened as a Cert ‘B’ College, under the principal ship of the late, Reverend Father Chartrand. In June that same year, the two seminaries were moved to Wiaga due to the Problem of residential accommodation. But before that the British colonial Authorities decided that there should be only government administered schools in the north, and the first one they decided to close was St. John Bosco’s College. With the typical white fathers adroitness and daring, they had thousands copies of a memorandum printed, protesting the closure, to be distributed to people of influence in educational affairs in the whole country. However before they posted them to their various destinations, they first sent a copy to the Director of Education in Accra. Soon after, a letter arriver from Accra asking that all other copies be destroyed and given the assurance that St. John Bosco’s College could continue. Officially the college became known as the St. John Bosco’s Training College after the removal of the two seminaries institutions. The pioneer missionaries namely His Lordship Bishop Gercoret Bertrand, then Vicar Apostolic of Navrongo, Rev. V.J Veilleux, Rev.P.C Perrault, and Rev. Bro Aiden were among the first to become part of the establishment of the school in the year 1948 followed by Fr A.R Label and Fr. G. Lincourt who continued in the year 1957 when the first President of the country, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah with the support from his allies wrestle power from our colonial masters to become an independent nation. With regards to academics, the school has turned out hundreds of teachers who are now found in almost every corner of the country contributing their quota to the development of college education in the region and the country as a whole. Above all the school since its inception has also produced a number of teachers who have become priests, reverend brothers and sisters who are serving in various capacities in and outside the country. Currently 80 percent of the tutors lecturing at the college are products of the college including the Principal, Mr Alfred Ndago. It is gratifying note that the school since its establishment has also produced well intelligent and most discipline students the country has ever had. In line with these, plans are far afoot by the authorities of the college to run a tertiary programme among other colleges in the country. These colleges are being introduced to a special Diploma Programme in Mathematic and Science. Many are of the hope that St. John Bosco’s College over the next few years would be adjudged the best in the country owing to the enormous contribution it is making in producing the best of teachers and academic laurels. This is evident in the school’s vision statement which clearly states that the college shall attain a unique position of excellence in teacher training not only in Upper East but in Ghana as a whole. Quite apart from that its mission and objective is to serve as a centre of excellence in fulfilling the government policy on teacher training by inculcating in her graduates the requisite academic abilities, professionals competencies and moral and social values for teaching at the basic level. It is countless to know the number of students who have passed through the school some of whom are now government officials including, District Chief Executives, civil and public servants, heads of departments among other prominent personalities. One cannot talk about the successes and achievement of such a great institution without outlining its daunting challenges. The challenges of the school are enormous and needs radical attention by government, parents, teachers as well as relevant stakeholders to rectify the situation.
• The school for the past years, have been exposed to criminals and land encroachers due to lack of fence wall despite past and present government intervention to provide a fence wall for the school.
• The problem of staff accommodation also pose a major challenge to the school as most of the lecturers travel from long distances to give lectures thus, affecting their timely activities. This problem has existed for quite some time now and nothing concrete has been done to save the situation. Now with the increase in staff population from 25 to 60, there is very serious pressure on the few available buildings provided for the lecturers. The issue is much compounded in such a way that some bungalows take up to three or more tutors with the attendant social problems among inmates
• Moreover, the school garage which is now serving as the fitting shop is the first classroom used by the Founding Fathers of the college in the 1930s. It was a carpentry shop for boys training to be catechists. Now the shop lacks the needed tools and equipments to augment is efficiency and operation.
• One of the most fascinating buildings in the school is the ‘CASTLE’. It served as the first building to house the pioneer Missionaries and later the African Priest who worked tirelessly to provide formal Catholic Education to Northern Ghana. Attached to the castle is a tower which holds a water reservoir that served as then college kitchen and main buildings. It contains rain harvested water. The tower was used as an observatory. One can clearly see Bolgatanga on a clear day when one stand on top of the tower. The garage, castle and tower are very important historical pieces that should not be allowed to go waste.

• The male student dormitory housing most of the boys in the school, were built by Fr Perrot and his cohort in a unique architechral design containing cubicles for prefects of the school. One would wonder what aggregate building materials were employed to permit the long span of 60 years served by the blocks with cracks and fragilities exhibited by modern day building. Now some parts of the building badly leaks during rainy season.

• The school dining hall which is a make shift hall made from wood and old roofing sheets serves as the place for students to take their meals. This has been as a result of renovation of the college dining hall. Even though the facility being renovated, its capacity is too small for the present student population of 843. The school is therefore in dying need for a new dining hall.

• As part of efforts to mould students in the Christian way of life, St John Bosco’s College has within it ambience Bosco Demonstration Junior High School. The school is well accommodated though the primary school is the other way round. The primary school currently using the college block as a dormitory. The population has increased in the last three years from 240 pupils to 600 pupils in serious congestion. There is need to relocate the primary school to a new site to free the dormitory block for students housing needs.

• Congestion in the classrooms has been a major concern of the college. The two storey blocks that were constructed in 1982, is still awaiting completion though, one of them had already been completed. This has greatly affected the number of student intake at the college.

• The problem of accommodation for the women has also been a major problem confronting the school. It is sad to note that only three houses had been allocated for the women. The reason being that until 1985 the college was purely for the men, which later saw the introduction of specialist programmes resulting in gender main streaming in St. John Bosco’s Training College. Morin and Kaisie houses were created by renovating Morin and Ferguson houses which were male houses to female houses. Tono house is the only female block built to accommodate the increasing number of women in the college.

• The school library block which is suppose to contain only a small number of students at a given time now takes about 700 students compelling some students to wait for their colleagues to finish whatever they are doing before they move in. the college library was built in 1956 together with the school nursing block to serve as classrooms for students. This was because admission of students at that time was an average of 16 per class. To save the situation a new library block has been built to take about 500 students for the time being.

• Another remarkable initiative aimed at generating revenue for the school is the mango orchard. In 2004 the principal of the school called for the buying of 100 pieces of mango seedlings to start the project. Aftermath, the seedlings were transplanted and nurtured till some unscrupulous people came to destroy 23 of the plants a year later.

• Apart from these and other challenges the college is faced with the problem of water supply, as well as inadequate sports and toilet facilities for students. As at now the students still struggle over water with the local inhabitants because there is only one borehole serving both the students and insiders.


As part of activities marking the 60 years of the school, some past and present graduates from the school had their observation, suggestions, concerns and comments to share with the general public. These people now represent various institutions and departments in their respective jurisdiction.
A tutor of Gowrie Junior High school in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region, Mr Vincent Asigre one of them and has this to share.

• Ayine Augustine a student on practice also had this to say

• A Headmaster, Mr Ndago Francis spoke on his experience back at school

• Apeme Kennete Ayaga outlines few challenges confronting academic work at the school.

• A senior hall tutor students affairs, William Anamoo Atindana said he had for some time now been able to monitor students’ movement in and out of the school with ease. To him, students’ compliance to his initiative is as a result of the discipline instilled in them.

• The Acting Vice-Principal of St John Bosco’s, Kukubor James Korbla Lorlornyo, talked about the problem of infrastructure and students inability to settle their fees. Also spoke about the relevance of accepting postings to the villages for teaching.

• Mr Bajna Moses encouraged management and staff, particularly, the principal to continue the good work and sacrifices they have been offering to the enhancement of academic performance among students.

• The Head of Mathematics Department, Alema Victor bemoaned female dislike for mathematics and suggested a separate block for the study of mathematics in the school. He spoke of other challenges.

• A student at Aggrey Hall, Mr Azagsiga Timothy complained of lack of electrical socket for studies. He also spoke about the inadequate toilet facilities and water at the school.

• Adongo Adua, of Cardinal Lavigerie Hall, spoke of the same challenges.

• The Head of the Technology Department, Rev. S.K Mensa who had served at the school for the past 20 years stressed about the problem of ladies not having the requisite qualification for some courses offered at the school. He therefore called on the government as a matter of urgency to help assist the school with access courses to help them.

• An old student of the school, Peter Tinasa appealed to the government to relocate the school to a different area since encroachers are gradually invading the school lands.

• The general Prefect, Isaac Nyaaba expressed much concern on the issue of sanitation and other relevant problems.

• Akpadago Joseph, a teaching practice co-ordinator made mention of the difficulties in supervising students who are on practical attachment. He mentioned lack of accommodation as one factor.

• The head of department, physical Education, Rev. Michael Yemisi made a humble appeal for the construction of a sports centre for the various sports disciplines.

• The President of the Students Representative Council, Nereous Daguah commended management for their generosity towards students who are not able to pay their fees on time.

• The Bongo District Director of Education, Mr. Francis Agyeere who was the acting Principal from 1998 to 2000 commended the continuous discipline in the school and appealed to old students and other relevant stakeholders to come to the aid of the school.

• Mr. Ayagitan Adiali Pwadali, an old mathematics tutor, who is the present Statistical Officer of the Bongo District Education Unit, shared his thoughts and opinion about the school. He also dwelled on discipline

• The Rector at Notre Dame Minor Seminary, Rev Fr Francis Kudelgo, is an old student of the school from 1982 to 1985. He talked about the cordial relationship between the various religious sects on campus at their time up to date.

• The Regional Manager, Catholic Education Unit and a member of the board of governors said at their time, the first 10 batch of students to be admitted were all ladies. He expressed dissatisfaction about the inadequate infrastructure at the school and called on the government and stakeholders to contribute their quota to the development of the school to enhance academic performance.

• Madam Rebecca Kubabon, Mistress of Morin Hall and an old girl of the school touched on the problem of accommodation and lack of fence wall for the school.

• An old tutor, Madam Faustibna Tankia spoke of the same challenges.

• The Vice Principal, Mr Yarig David Dabre lamented on some successes and challenges chalked as far as fence wall, classroom block, staff accommodation and other facilities are concerned.

• The Principal, St. John Bosco’s College, is Mr Alfred Ndago. He gave a brief historical background about the school with several appeals on government to increase the number of tertiary institutions for the three Regions of the North. Mr Ndago also stressed on the issue of certification accreditation for the college.