Old students of Seven Great Princes Academy have launched an “Old Students Association” 40 years after the school’s establishment with a commitment to give back and support the next generation.

The association was officially launched as part of activities marking the school’s anniversary, bringing together alumni from different years to reconnect with their alma mater.

Speaking at the launch, Ms Hilda Cobblah, an old student and member of the Head Committee of Publicity, said the core purpose of the association is rooted in the school’s motto: “coming back to embrace the school.”

“With this Old Student Association, we are coming back to our school. As the motto says, coming back to come and embrace the school,” she said.  

“And us coming back to the school, to give back to the school. And then give what we have. You know, we've achieved so many things. The school has already impacted on us.”

Ms. Hilda urged current students to prioritize education, skills development and discipline.

“What I have for them is we should just make sure that we have education as the key stuff in our life,” she advised.  

“And then if you have also skills, you understand, you can also add up skills to it. And then also, we should also be having disciplinarity.”

She noted that discipline was one of the biggest lessons she carried from Facilities Academy and that it continues to impact her life today.

“As a product of Seven Great Princes Academy, I went through the process of achieving discipline, and then it has even impacted in my life. And then this has helped. So, that's what I have for the youth.”

Ms. Cobblah also expressed concern about the lack of discipline in society today and said the association hopes to help instill those same values in current students through mentorship and support programs.

On his part, Dr. Ralph E. Nordjo said the quality of education he received at the school shaped his career and that of many others now working in the public and private sectors across Ghana and Africa.

“I passed through the walls of this great school. It ensured that students go through disciplinary actions so you become more disciplined,” he said.  

“You are able to nurture and understand the purpose for which you are in school. The main objective is to improve knowledge and be able to contribute and become more productive in the future.”

Dr. Nordjo, who is involved in policy analysis and formation across Africa, paid tribute to the school’s founder, Mr. Alex Raphael Brown, and the teachers for instilling values that have produced entrepreneurs, accountants, and policy experts.

While celebrating the alumni gathering, Dr. Nordjo expressed concern about indiscipline and moral decline in the wider society.

“Society has transformed. It is sad for us to be observing all of these things — we hear so many untoward occurrences in schools,” he said.

He noted that while most private institutions still maintain standards, the public system “is broken down and we need to go back to the basics”.

According to Dr. Nordjo, the most critical stage for learning is from early childhood to age 13-15.

“If you get it right at the primary level, you’ll be able to move forward,” he said. “When you get to JSS and SSS level, you have already kind of grown a bit.”

He proposed several measures government can adopt:

1.  “We need to improve and ensure that our teachers are well trained and they are able to transfer the same knowledge to our children.”

2.  Adopt pedagogically sound curricula and monitor what is taught weekly.

3.  Set up IT rooms where students who are behind can spend one hour a day with tablets to catch up. “The computer teaches them and gets to know their level. Within no time, they improve.”

Dr. Ralph E. Nordjo cited research showing that 40% of economic growth is explained by education.

“While we’re talking about economic growth and everything, why don’t we get our children and our people to be well-educated and understand?” he asked.

He also linked poor education outcomes to wider social problems including mental health issues and drug abuse among youth.

When asked about bringing back corporal punishment, he said: “I don’t think we need to go back to those things, but there are innovative ways that you can ensure kids uphold the values of our society.”

He concluded that expanding the discipline, monitoring, and teaching model used at Prince Academy to both public and private schools “will do so much good to our economy”.