The widening infrastructure strain facing some of Ghana’s aging public secondary schools has come sharply into focus at the St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School, where alumni from the 1993 year group have financed the refurbishment of the teachers’ common room amid growing concerns over deteriorating academic facilities and mounting maintenance deficits across the campus.
The refurbished facility was last Friday officially handed over to the school in Accra, with alumni and school authorities describing the intervention as part of efforts to improve teacher welfare and strengthen the academic environment.
The project comes at a time when many of Ghana’s older public secondary schools continue to grapple with aging infrastructure, weak maintenance culture and inadequate funding for rehabilitation works.
Extensive Rehabilitation Works Undertaken
Project Manager for the refurbishment and old student Michael Sodzi Esq, explained that the intervention involved extensive structural, electrical and aesthetic rehabilitation works aimed at restoring the facility to a functional standard.
According to him, the project began with an initial demolition phase involving the removal of dilapidated elements including damaged windows, old doors, worn-out floor tiles, deteriorated burglar-proof systems, electrical cables, fittings and fixtures.
He said the team subsequently undertook major repair works involving plastering, concreting, wall and column repairs, reinforcement of concrete slabs, repairs to existing roofing structures and replacement of rotten ceiling struts, battens and plywood ceilings.
Mr. Sodzi added that the refurbishment also included the removal and replacement of louvre blades, installation of suspended ceilings, replacement of faulty doors and locks, fixing of eaves and barge boards, internal and external painting works, installation of ceiling lights and six ceiling fans, as well as renovation works within the store room and kitchenette.
Additional finishing works included tiling of the kitchenette area, repairs to doors and painting of various sections of the facility.
He explained that the phased rehabilitation approach was necessary due to the deteriorated state of several parts of the structure.
“Little Drops Make a Mighty Ocean”
Headmaster of the school, Rev. Father George Obeng Appah, commended the old students for the intervention, describing the refurbished common room as a significant improvement from the previous condition of the facility.
“This is beautiful,” he said in an interview after the ceremony.
“When I assumed office, the teachers’ common room was in a very bad shape and I decided to renovate it. I reached out to friends to support me, only to realise that the 1993 year group had already committed itself to renovating the place.”
According to him, the intervention reflects the type of alumni support urgently needed to prevent further deterioration of facilities in the school.
“We are not looking for anything big from any year group. Little drops of water make a mighty ocean,” he stated.
Science Laboratories and Other Facilities Under Pressure
Rev. Father Appah warned that several structures within the school remain in poor condition and require urgent intervention.
“If you look at St. Thomas Aquinas SHS, our structures are dilapidated and we need people to come on board. Otherwise, considering where the school is located, a prime area with beautiful surroundings, it will become a shock if nothing is done,” he said.
He singled out the school’s science laboratories as areas requiring immediate attention.
“If you see the state of our science laboratories, it is nothing to write home about,” he added, while appealing to old students, corporate institutions and individuals passionate about education to support the school.
The headmaster further noted that although the refurbishment had significantly improved the common room, the facility still required additional support in the form of furniture, blinds and air-conditioning systems.
“The furniture is key. Without that, I do not know whether staff can fully move in and make good use of the place,” he said.
He stressed that teachers require comfortable and conducive working environments to remain motivated and productive.
Why Teacher Facilities Matter
Education experts have increasingly highlighted the importance of teacher welfare infrastructure in improving learning outcomes, arguing that the condition of staff facilities often affects morale, lesson preparation, collaboration and academic delivery.
Teacher common rooms in many public schools serve as essential spaces for lesson planning, marking, academic discussions and staff coordination. Poor conditions within such facilities can negatively affect teacher productivity and the broader teaching and learning environment.
Call for Collective Alumni Support
Representative of the 1993 year group, Mr. Fredrick Adom, said the group undertook the project as part of efforts to preserve the school’s standards and support academic development.
“For now, this is what we have. We want the school to take it over and put it to good use, while we continue exploring other ways to support the school,” he said.
Mr. Adom also appealed to other year groups to adopt similar interventions across the school.
“This is what we are asking for, that all year groups come on board to support the school. If every year group adopts even one classroom or one project area, the transformation will happen within a short period,” he stated.
“Let us come together and support the school so St. Thomas Aquinas SHS can become new again.”
Alumni Support Becoming Increasingly Critical
The intervention by the 1993 year group reflects a growing trend in Ghana where alumni associations are increasingly stepping in to bridge infrastructure and funding gaps in public schools amid rising maintenance costs and operational challenges.
