Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School

Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School (PRESEC) is a secondary boarding school for boys, it is located in Legon, Accra, Ghana. It was founded in 1938, under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church of the Gold Coast.[4] The Basel missionary-theologian, Nicholas Timothy Clerk (1862–1961), who served as the first Synod Clerk of the Presbyterian Church of the Gold Coast from 1918 to 1932, used his tenure to advocate for the establishment of the secondary school.[4][5] The school has ties with its sister schools, Aburi Girls' Senior High School and Krobo Girls Senior High School.

Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School
Location
Legon

Greater-Accra

Ghana
Coordinates05°39′48″N 0°10′28″W
Information
TypePublic high school
MottoLatin: In Lumine Tuo Videbimus Lumen
Religious affiliation(s)Presbyterian Church
Established1938 (1938)
FounderPresbyterian Church of the Gold Coast[1]
Head of schoolDavid Odjija[2][3]
Faculty90[3]
GradesSenior secondary years 1-3
GenderBoys
Age14 to 19
Enrollment3,000[3]
Campus typeSuburban
Houses13
Color(s)Blue  
MascotƆdadeɛ (Baobab)
Presecan
NicknameBlue Magicians/Presecans
Websitepreseclegon.edu.gh

The school's crest has a shield with the Presbyterian symbol (the St Andrew Cross-Scottish flag with the Swiss flag embedded and a burning torch in the middle) with the motto of the school, "In Lumine Tuo Videbimus Lumen", meaning "In Thy Light We Shall See Light", scrolled beneath the shield. The school was originally located in Odumase - Krobo in the Eastern Region of Ghana before moving to its current location in Legon, in 1968.[4]

The school anthem is "Happy Are We", written by J. L. Anang and transcribed by Stephen Appiah Danquah.[6] The school is a seven-time Ghana National Science and Maths Quiz winner.[7] The alumnus of the school are refereed to as "Ɔdadeɛ".[8]

History

Odumase campus (1938–1968)
ɔdadeɛ" (baobab tree)

The school was started in Odumase after an educationist of the Presbyterian Church of the Gold Coast, E. A. W. Engmann, continued to lobby and push for the establishment of a church boys' school, after N. T. Clerk had retired from his church position.[9] This effort came to fruition in 1938 with the first group of 16 boys and four teachers. Engmann was the first headmaster.

The Odumase campus housed German missionaries, then a primary school and then a government survey school before becoming the Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School.

One of the traditions of the school is the "ɔdadeɛ" (baobab tree) located on the campus. An alumnus of the school is referred to as "Ɔdadeɛ".[8] The baobab tree is a Ghanaian symbol of knowledge, resourcefulness and strength. New students were traditionally initiated at the feet of this tree clad in bedsheets and powdered faces. PRESEC was located here until 1968 when it was moved to its current location at Legon, Mile 9.

Legon campus (1968 to date)

In September 1968, the new campus at Legon just north east of the University of Ghana campus at Mile 9, received its first set of students.[10] At the new campus, it continued as a boys' boarding secondary school until the mid-1970s when the sixth form was upgraded to the National Science College. Female students were admitted into the sixth form in small numbers from September 1975. They continued to be part of the student body until June 1996 when the last batch left.[11]

PRESEC dining hall
Classroom facilities of the Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School

The Legon campus started with four student boarding houses. Three were named after notable Presbyterian leaders as Kwansa House, Clerk House and Engmann House. The fourth was named Akro House after the people of Krobo Odumase. The next two houses to be built were Riis House and Labone House. With the completion of the National Science College buildings, Ako-Adjei House and Owusu-Parry House were added (the latter named after the first Senior Prefect). Another house, House 9, admitted its first residents in September 2010 as well as a new house, House 10.

Campus
Assembly hall

Houses
  • Kwansa House
  • Clerk House
  • Engmann House
  • Akro House
  • Riis House
  • Labone House
  • Ako-Adjei House
  • Owusu Parry House
  • House 9
  • P. T. A. House

Alliance

Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School, PRESEC has an ongoing alliance with their fellow Presbyterian Girls' school, Aburi Girls' Secondary School, ABUGISS. The alliance is known as PRE-GISS.[12][13]

Odadeɛ Radio

In December 2021, the 1981 year group of the alumni of the school launched an internet radio station called Odadeɛ Radio to serve both the school and its alumni and others worldwide. It is claimed that this is the first Senior High School in Ghana to have its own radio station.[14][15] The station was established to generate increased interest by the students in media studies fields such as journalism, news reporting, photography and media management. It is also to support educational activities of the school and the mentorship programmes of the alumni.[16] The first manager of the radio station is John Addo-Fening of the 1981 alumnus who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Rite 90.1 FM radio station.[17]

Selected achievements
2002 Civic Education Club handing-over ceremony.
PRESEC wins NIIT, 2008
PRESEC wins Coke Hits, 2011
Initial PRESEC, Legon emblem

1990s
  • PRESEC regularly had one of the best GCE O-level and A-level results prior to the change of the national examination system to the BECE and WASSCE.[18]
  • In 1995, the school won the second edition of the Ghana National Science and Maths Quiz competition. PRESEC Southern Sector Champions, defeated Opoku Ware School, Northern Sector Champions in the Final of Finals.[18]
  • In 1999, the school won four of the seven WAEC (West African Examinations Council) Excellence Awards for the best individual performances in the final examinations for over 500 secondary schools.[18]

2000s
  • In 2002, at the National Constitution Quiz organized by the National Commission for Civic Education, PRESEC Civic Education Club emerged winners of the competition.[18]
  • In 2003, PRESEC repeated the feat of 1995 by defeating Opoku Ware School in the National Science and Maths Quiz competition. A student from that winning team was later adjudged the overall best performance in the WAEC (West African Examinations Council) SSSCE examinations that year.[18]
  • On 1 July 2006, the school won the National Science and Maths Quiz for a third time. The school was given the competition trophy for keeps. PRESEC defeated St. Peter's Secondary School, then defending champions, in the final.[18]
  • On 16 June 2008, PRESEC emerged winners of the National Title of NIIT ICT Expert 2008 in Kumasi, after beating the regional champions: St. James Seminary SHS, Sunyani (Brong-Ahafo), Opoku Ware School, Kumasi (Ashanti Region), St. Augustine's College, Cape Coast (Central Region) and Baidoo Bonsoe SHS, Takoradi (Western Region) with 78 schools competing also at the regional levels.[19]
  • On 8 July 2008, PRESEC won the National Science and Math Quiz for a fourth time. The school defeated Opoku Ware School in the final. This was the third time PRESEC had defeated Opoku Ware in the final.[18]
  • On 24 June 2009, not only did PRESEC win the quiz competition for the fifth time, but they also became the first school ever to successfully defend their title as National Champions. PRESEC defeated Achimota School in the final.[18]

2010s
  • In 2010, two PRESEC students represented Ghana and won a bronze medal at the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) held in Abuja, Nigeria, out of 35 countries across the world.[18]
  • In 2010, a student was honoured at the WASSCE 2009 Excellence Awards Ceremony, as Best Candidate in the General Science Programme, the National Best Candidate and then the Overall Best Candidate in West Africa; and a student was Overall Best in the Business Programme.[18]
  • On 13 May 2011, the school won the VRA 50th Anniversary Inter-Schools Debate Competition beating Mfantsipim School in the finals of the competition.[18]
  • In September 2011, the school won the Sprite Ball Inter-Schools Basketball Championship, defeating defending champions, Achimota School 10-8 in the finals.[18]
  • On 2 September 2011, the school won the maiden edition of the "Coke Hit Single". The competition featured musical talents from 32 senior high schools who vied for the ultimate title of "Coke Hit Single" - Best high school musical talents in Ghana.[19]
  • In March 2013, during the WASSCE 2012 Excellence Awards, a student was judged the Overall Best Candidate in the General Arts Program in the West African Examinations Council's examinations (West African Examinations Council) conducted throughout the West African sub-region; in a year where the Council recorded its highest number 'ever' of candidates meeting its minimum eligibility criterion for the excellence awards, that is 8 grade A1s - (530 candidates out of the total 174,385 candidates who sat for the May/June WASSCE in 2012).[19]
  • 2016 - The Speaker of Parliament of Ghana, Aaron Mike Ocquaye (Class of 1962), as well as 15 Members of Parliament who are alumni, were elected to the 7th Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
  • In December 2019, a PRESEC student represented Ghana and won Silver Medal at the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) in Doha, Qatar - the first time a Ghanaian had won Silver Medal at the Olympiad; until then, previous medalists from Ghana had won Bronze.[20]

2020s
  • On 8 October 2020, the school won the National Maths and Science Quiz contest for the sixth time by beating Adisadel College and Opoku Ware Senior High School in the finals.[21]
  • In March 2022, a student was adjudged the overall best WASSCE candidate in Ghana and won the 2nd prize in West Africa at WAEC's 2021 International Excellence Awards.[22][23]
  • On 26 October 2022, PRESEC defeated Prempeh College and Adisadel College to win the NSMQ competition for the seventh time.[5]

Headteachers
Headteachers Tenure in office
The Rev. E. A. W. Engmann1938—1943
The Rev. E. J. Klufio - (Acting Headmaster)1943—1948
C. J. Amaning (Acting Headmaster)1948—1949
The Rev. E. A. W. Engmann1949—1951
The Rev. E. J. Klufio1951—1960
N. O. Anim (Acting Headmaster)Sept 1960—Jan 1961
E. K. Datsa (Acting Headmaster)Jan 1961—July 1961
S. M. Akita (Acting Headmaster)Aug 1961—Sept 1961
The Rev. E. J. Klufio1961—1966
E. K. Caesar (Acting Headmaster)Jan 1966—Augt 1966
E. K. Datsa1966-1973
E. A. Apeadu (Acting Headmaster)Sept 1973—Aug 1974
Odadee The Rev. E. S. Mate-Kodjo ‘481974—1980
E. Y. Attua-Afari1980—1982
E. A. Apeadu1982—1989
Rose Ankrah (Acting Headmistress)1989—1990
A. A. Akuoku1990—1996
J. J. Asare (Acting Headmaster)1996—1997
J. J. Asare1997—2006
Africanus Kwame Anane2006—2014
Lady Queene Aseidu-Akrofi2014-2018[24]
David Odjija2018—[25]

Notable alumni

Politics, government, and public policy

Academia

Arts and entertainment

Sports

Corporate, business, and finance

Law

Music

Journalism

See also

References
  1. "PRESEC | ALUMINI PORTAL". 11 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. "Presec @80: Presby Church donates to Presec Legon | Regional News 2018-09-05". 5 September 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  3. "Welcome to Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School Website". Archived from the original on 8 June 2004. Retrieved 20 March 2007.
  4. "PRESEC | ALUMINI PORTAL". 11 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. "Clerk, Nicholas Timothy, Ghana, Basel Mission". www.dacb.org. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  6. "Welcome odadee.org - BlueHost.com". 18 September 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016.
  7. "NSMQ". nsmq.com.gh.
  8. Ennin, Richard. "PRESEC Old Students walk with NSMQ winners". www.gna.org.gh. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  9. "Welcome odadee.org - BlueHost.com". 3 March 2016. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  10. "OUR HISTORY | Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School". Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  11. Amoako, Henry Kwadwo (30 April 2020). "History of Senior High Schools in Ghana: LEGON PRESEC (Part 2)". African Research Consult. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  12. "Aburi Girls loses to their alliance Presec-Legon in The Sharks Quiz opener". www.ghanaweb.com. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  13. Gbagbo, Julitta (25 April 2016). "12 SCHOOLS IN GHANA WITH THE STRONGEST ALLIANCE GROUPS". Kuulpeeps - Ghana Campus News and Lifestyle Site by Students. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  14. Berk, Kwesi (29 December 2021). "Presec Legon:Odade3 Alumni Launch First Ever Radio Station On Campus". News247gh. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  15. "Presec Legon's Old Students Launch First Ever Radio Station On Campus". Adehyemotion. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  16. "PRESEC-LEGON becomes the first and only secondary school in Africa to have a radio station. - Ghanamma.com". www.ghanamma.com. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  17. Afari, Mark (2 March 2022). "PRESEC-Legon holds Career Day as part of Odadeɛ Commemorative Week - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. The Multimedia Group. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  18. "AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS | Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School". Preseclegon.edu.gh. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  19. "AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS | Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School". Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  20. "IJSO 2019 QATAR ; A Glorious Recap". GCIHS Students Blog. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  21. "NSMQ 2020: Presec ends decade-long drought after outsmarting Adisco and OWASS to win 6th trophy". MyJoyOnline.com. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  22. "Ghanaian candidate from PRESEC places 2nd at International Excellence Awards for WASSCE 2021". GhanaWeb. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  23. "Kwame Brako Asante Performs as Best Student in Ghana & 2nd Best in West Africa in WASSCE 2021 Exams". GhanaWeb. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  24. "Presec launches 80th Anniversary Celebration". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  25. "PRESEC confers award on Speaker". Graphic Online. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  26. "Afigya Kwabre North MP makes cash donations to finalists of 2021 NSMQ". GhanaWeb. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  27. "Ɔdadeɛ Global Executive Calls On Chief Of Defence Staff Ɔdadeɛ Vice Admiral Seth Amoama – ƆDADEƐ". www.odadeena.org. Ɔdadeɛ North America. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  28. Sagoe, Margaret (28 February 2019). "#Emergers2019: Get To Know Dancegod Lloyd". Kuulpeeps - Ghana Campus News and Lifestyle Site by Students. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  29. "Benjamin AZAMATI-KWAKU | Profile | World Athletics".
  30. "Andrew OWUSU | Profile | World Athletics". www.worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013.
  31. Frimpong-Ansah, J. H. (1996). Flexibility and responsiveness in the Ghana economy: post decline atrophy syndome. p. 36. ISBN 9789964969103.
  32. Asmah, Kobby, ed. (2 March 2022). "Ɔdadeɛ '81 - Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of leaving Presec- Roll Call, Class of '81". Daily Graphic. Accra: Graphic Communications Group Ltd (21827): 8. ISSN 0855-1529.
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