On 21st February, 2019 we hosted this year’s annual How to Master Education Conference for High School Principals and Counsellors in Ghana. The conference held at our A&C Mall Campus was attended by over sixty High School Principals and Counsellors from almost thirty public and private high schools in Ghana.
This annual conference is designed to provide participants with a rewarding experience in a lively intellectual interaction with other Principals and Counsellors, as well as to deepen their understanding of current practices in the field of leadership. It aims to help participants to further develop themselves as professionals so that they can contribute to the development of their students and the society at large.
This year’s edition, with the theme ‘Educational Leadership in a Global Context’ was facilitated by our Deputy Provost, Associate Professor Cynthia Forson, Foundation Programme Coordinator, Johan Claasen and Teaching and Learning Developer, Coomerene Rodrigo. Our Keynote Speaker, Mrs Betty Dzokoto, former Headmistress of Wesley Girls’ High School commended LUG for filling a gap in the education system, which is capacity building for educational practitioners. She stated that in her 30 years’ experience in Education she could recollect very few instances where educational practitioners had opportunities for capacity – building – this had to be done individually.
Mrs Dzokoto spoke on the educational challenges that confront leaders of high schools locally, such as the lack of adequate teaching and learning materials, lack of adequately trained teachers, absence of effective counselling services and the high pupil to teacher ratio especially due to the implementation of free secondary school education, but also gave some sound advice to encourage those who are faced with some of these challenges. “I believe as leaders, you should never throw up your hands in despair, because your followers are looking up to you for encouragement. Remember that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going, and that makes you a true leader. Whenever you are confronted with an uphill task, I humbly suggest you get your team to brainstorm as to the way forward. Two heads are always better than one. Remind yourselves of your core values and how best to achieve your goals guided by your core values which must define all you do. Plan and act on what new ideas are shared and when it comes to action, you must lead the way.”
The day was full of interactive discourse between the Heads of Schools and the Counsellors who spent the morning together, and exchanged ideas and experiences. In the afternoon the participants were divided in two groups, and our Foundation Programme Coordinator led a session for the High School Heads and Principals, while the Teaching & Learning Developer led the session for the Counsellors.
All the participants were then presented with certificates in a Closing Ceremony. Below is the list of schools that participated in this year’s edition:
1. Aburi Girls
2. Achimota School
3. African Science Academy
4. Aggrey Memorial
5. Akosombo International School
6. Alpha Beta International school
7. Archbishop Porter Girls
8. Beacon International School
9. Dayspring International Academy
10. East Airport International School
11. Educational Consult
12. Galaxy International School
13. Ghana Christian High School
14. Ghana International School
15. Krobo Girls Senior High School
16. Legacy Girls
17. Methodist Girls High School
18. Mfantsiman Girls Senior High School
19. Mfantsipim Boys Senior High School
20. New Nations International School
21. Penfield International School
22. Pope Johns Senior High School
23. Presec Legon
24. SOS Hermann Gmeiner International College
25. Soul Clinic School
26. St Roses High School
27. Tema International School
28. The McCarthy Hill School
29. The Roman Ridge School
To view some images from the conference click here
