www.padfm.com.gh
(Damongo) – The Old Students of Damongo Senior High School Association (DASSOSA) in the Savannah region is blaming the recently poor performances of the school on the Computerised School Selection Placement System (CSSPS).
To them, the CSSPS places students with low quality grades into the school and this is contributing greatly to the recently poor academic performance by the school.
The Savannah region scored a low percentage pass mark of 2.36 percent (2.36%), with DASS scoring 5.46 percent (5.46%) after presenting over 400 students in the 2020 WASSCE.
Established in November, 1971, DASS currently has over 1,600 students studying varied courses.
The school, over the years has passed out over 800,000 students who are contributing to development both home and abroad in diverse fields.
During the ceremony to launch the 50th anniversary of the school, the national treasurer and chairman of the anniversary steering Committee, George Amoah Attah
said the CSSPS is a big challenge to lower graded schools like DASS and that the old students are not happy about the results the school is producing in recent times.
“We as old students are not happy about the performance of the school because this school has turned out very brilliant students. The system that we have, excuse my words, garbage in garbage out, is giving you low-grade students, what do you expect? The system automatically gives you a certain category of students.”
“If the system was such that all schools are given grade A, B or C students, the high-flyers will pull along the average students. However, now they are giving the school only poor-performing students because the school was graded in a certain category. We are saying that, as old boys and girls of the school, we are not happy about the system.”
The Savannah Regional Minister, Saeed Muhazu Jibril in a speech called on the school to take advantage of technology to improve teaching and learning and call on authorities to install discipline in the school to help grind results.
“The future is linked to technology, and we must take advantage of this technology to improve on teaching and learning; the computer, the internet, and indeed the use of technology, to be able to harness effectively the large numbers as a result of the free SHS to improve students performance.”
“Discipline, moral values, hard work, honesty, respect for the elderly and time management were all the hallmarks of this great institution. These values and guidance I believe, are what have kept DASS for 50 years.”
“I encourage the current management of the school to continue to instill these values to take the school Higher in the next 50 years.”
The Minister’s speech was delivered on his behalf by Petro Ankorley, the West Gonja municipal assembly Coordinating Director.
Damongo Senior High School, DASS, was established in 1971 at the premises of the then Damongo Boys Middle Boarding School.
DASS officially started operating on 22nd November 1971 with 66 students, all males, who were later joined by two (2) females and Fati Tingbani as the first Senior Girls Prefect.
The next academic year, 1972, saw DASS admitting 59 boys and 20 girls.
www.padfm.com.gh / Abdulai Zulkaninu
