reading, improves the students’ reading ability and
exposes them to great possibilities beyond their
geographic limitations, to inspire them to fulfil their
potential.
reading, improves the students’ reading ability and
exposes them to great possibilities beyond their
geographic limitations, to inspire them to fulfil their
potential.
technology and innovation development to prepare
the students for the 21st century marketplace.
technology and innovation development to prepare
the students for the 21st century marketplace.
to ensure that hunger no longer stops children from
getting an education.
longer deters Children’s education, through school farms.
poverty and transform thousands of children’s lives.
READ OUR IMPACT REPORT
“3-YEAR PROGRESS REPORT ON THANK U CHARITY’S ECO-LEARNING CENTRE PROJECT”
A Report On the Eco-Learning Centre Project with Major Sponsorship from The Lyons Family of Australia, undertaken at Calvary Methodist Preparatory School, Adjiringanor, East-Legon in 2017 By Thank U Charity of UK.
INTRODUCTION
Calvary Methodist Preparatory School, Adjiringanor, East-Legon benefited from an Eco-Learning Centre project undertaken by the UK-based Thank ‘U’ Charity, a non-profit organization, for which the Lyons Family of Australia and US-based Catholic Priest, Rev. Michael Williams SJ (through his book sales) were major donors, in September 2017.
The facilities that were established in our School as part of the project included:
Library
‘The Helen Lyons Memorial Thank U Library’ – an ultra-modern library stocked with over 3,000 books comprising of very good reading materials from nursery level to 13 years of age, board games, children’s videos along with six refurbished ultra-modern computers for research use in the Library.
Computer Lab
Thomas Lyons & Louise Keady Computer Lab- an Information Communication Technology (I.C.T) laboratory with 24 refurbished ultra-modern computers and two laptops. The organization also provided furniture for the laboratory.
Vertical Farm
The John Lyons Vertical Farm – a vertical farm situated on 20ft x 15ft (300 sq. ft) of land on the school grounds. At full capacity, it should be able to grow as many as 570 crops which is the equivalent of 1800 sq. ft of traditional farm size.
IMPACT REPORT AFTER 3 YEARS
IMPACT
These projects have contributed immensely to the revolutionizing of the school and helped reposition the school both to compete with other high performing schools, as well as meeting the pressing demands of students and guardians. Upon completion, of the 3 projects, the school’s timetable was quickly restructured to ensure that the facilities, especially the library and ICT lab, became fully accessible to students/pupils.
The library rejuvenated students/pupils’ interest in reading. This interest was met with great success such that within a short period of time, the kindergarten department could read proficiently by age 5.
The primary and Junior High departments have also experienced their fair share of this tremendous positive transformation. It is noteworthy that since then, it inspired progress in reading skills which is now reflected in overall academic performance in the English language, and other subjects both in internal and external examinations. Existing records show that students’ performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E) nosedived with relatively poor performance between 2013 and 2017 during which three (3) batches of students graduated. That was 4 years before the establishment of Thank U Charity’s Eco-Learning Centre facilities. The best grade at that time was aggregate 16 which was just around the average mark. (See chart below for the explanation of the aggregate system).
Unprecedented Impact on Academic Ratings of the School Pupils
At the end of the 2018/2019 academic year, barely ten months after the facilities had become accessible, we witnessed an unprecedented performance as presented in the table below. I would explain how the education qualification standard aggregates are rated in the Ghanaian education system, to put the grades in the context that will
Explanation of the Ghanaian Education Grading system
Grade | Interpretation |
1 | Highest |
2 | Higher |
3 | High |
4 | High Average |
5 | Average |
6 | Low Average |
7 | Low |
Fig. 1.3. Grades and their interpretation.
The total grade obtained by a candidate is a sum total of the grades obtained from six (6) subjects out of nine (9).
Selection of the six (6) subjects is however based on results from four (4) compulsory subjects (Mathematics, English Language, Integrated Science, and Social Studies) plus the best grades from any other two of the remaining subjects (I.C.T, Basic Design Technology- Pre-Technical Skills/Home Economics, French, Religious and Moral Education and Ghanaian Language).
From the above summary, a candidate who obtains a sum total of grade six (6) would have scored grade one (1) in each compulsory subject and any two of the non-compulsory subjects.
Below are the Grades attained by our School Pupils in 2018/2019
Aggregate | No. of Students | |
1. | 6 | 2 |
2. | 9 | 3 |
3. | 11 | 1 |
4. | 13 | 1 |
5. | 16 | 1 |
6. | 18 | 1 |
Fig.1.1: Performance of candidates in the 2018/2019 B.E.C.E examination
In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges it presented to all educational systems, coupled with the fact that most of the candidates presented this year were slow learners, we have been able to put up another impressive performance in the recently released results of the 2019/2020 academic year as shown in the table below.
Below are the Grades attained by our School Pupils in 2018/2019
Aggregate | No. of Students | |
1. | 6 | 1 |
2. | 9 | 1 |
3. | 13 | 3 |
4. | 14 | 1 |
5. | 17 | 1 |
6. | 18 | 1 |
7. | 25 | 1 |
Fig.1.2.: Performance of candidates in the 2019/2020 B.E.C.E examination School Situation Before Thank U Charity’s Eco-Learning Centre Project
Pre-existing conditions in the school which had led to poor grades resulted in the decline of the student population. It was feared by some that the school might never recover and that collapse of the school was inevitable.
The outcome of Recruitment Drive based on our New Eco-Learning Centre Facilities
After launching a campaign that featured all the 3 facilities provided by the Eco-Learning Centre Project on our flyers, banners, and brochures, coupled with a facelift of the Pre-school department, the pupil/student population began to rise. It would be pleasing to mention that the student population rose from one hundred and Eighty-nine (189) at the end of the 2017 academic year (just before the Eco-Learning Centre was established) to a staggering three hundred and twenty (320) presently. This figure is expected to rise by an estimated 15.6% based on prospective admission data. The school, when fully completed with boarding and sporting facilities can accommodate about one thousand two hundred (1,200), Pupils/students. The school has a vast land yet to be used.
Impact of the Eco-Learning Centre’s New ICT Lab, on Truancy
Additionally, the I.C.T laboratory introduced a new life into the overall school system. One problem it eliminated almost immediately was the issue of truancy among students/pupils. More significantly, the laboratory greatly inspired enrolment as many parents become more and more aware and enthused about ensuring that their wards acquired a good foundation in I.C.T. and digital skills. Having an ICT Lab with Ultra-modern computers and equipment, gave us an edge over most Schools in the area that do not have any of those facilities to boast of.
Impact of the Eco-Learning Centre’s Vertical Farm
It is often said that a healthy mind requires a healthy body. Thus, the role of the vertical farm is improving the health, population and academic performance of students/pupils cannot be overemphasized. From the moment the first harvests were gathered until recently, most lunch was usually garnished with spring onions which do very well on the farm. The quality of the meals is often a testimony that most parents share during the Parents and Teachers Association (P.T.A) meetings.
Mrs. Naana Esi Boham,
School Headmistress.
The library is in good shape. It is being used effectively and efficiently and It is run by the headmistress and national service personnel (who read the English Language in the university). We teach the children how to look after and the books and cherish the opportunity of a library which they are privileged to have overall the neighbouring schools. The Helen Lyons Memorial Thank U Library continues to provide great services towards academic performance and population drive.
Students can access the library in two ways. They visit the library during periods allocated on the school’s timetable as well as free periods to do personal studies and research during school hours. They are also allowed to borrow books from the school library, which they must return within a certain period.
All computers are currently in good working condition and the laboratory is always opened during school hours. There are two I.C.T teachers who manage the Lab and are always available to assist pupils/students.
The vertical farm has however been faced with some challenges. Most of the vegetables have not been growing as expected. Currently, the only crop that is thriving on the farm is the spring onion. Most holes in the pipes for irrigating the crops are sealed and some of the pipes may require to be changed. Again, the structure of the farm needs fixing as the farm floods after a heavy downpour of rain.
Once the school is back in session after the COVID-19 restrictions, we would liaise with Thank U Charity about the way forward on managing the issues with the vertical farm.
Planned Future Project by Thank U Charity
Thank U Charity has informed us that Mr. John Lyons who so generously sponsored the vertical farm, has provided funds to sponsor the establishment of a football pitch along with a few extra footballs for the School.
On his visit to Ghana during the launch of the Eco-Learning Centre project, in 2017, Mr. John Lyons did observe that the children played football on the uneven School compound using rubber tyres or large stones to mark the goalposts of an imaginary football pitch. A new pitch with proper football posts would encourage the pupils (both boys and girls) to do more sports activities. We are eternally grateful to Mr. John Lyons for his continued generosity and support of our school. I would like to indicate that the School Board is considering naming the football pitch in honour of John Lyons as ‘John Lyons Football Park’ when established.
The football pitch project has had to be delayed because all schools in the country have been closed since March 9th, 2020 as part of the preventive measures imposed by the Government, to as safeguard all children from the raging COVID-19 virus. Once the School is back in session, we would invite Thank U Charity, to create the new football pitch for our school.
CONCLUSION
The cumulative impact of these facilities that make up the Eco-Learning Centre project, is appreciably indicative of the higher academic performance of students, as well as the upsurge in enrollment. Their complementary roles have revived the school and set it as one of the most preferred schools in the community. These Facilities have removed the pervasive conditions that promoted truancy. They have and continue to greatly encourage, enthusiastically, high school attendance and enrolment.
It is a privilege for us to attribute the starting point for improvement in our school to the largest extent, to the establishment of Thank U Charity Eco-Learning Centre project that has greatly enhanced more areas of our school than we could have ever imagined. This candid and objective appraisal is greatly deserving, and our continued gratitude and appreciation go to Madam Sally Baffour and her able Trustees, partners, team, the Lyons family, sponsors, and all the donors for their tremendous altruistic support of our School. Thank you very much for your magnanimous generosity which has turned our school around so completely, for the better.
Written by: Mrs. Naana Esi Boham
Position: Headmistress
Calvary Methodist Preparatory School, Adjiringanor East-Legon, Accra.
Signature 
Date: 24th December, 2020
GALLERY
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Thank U Charity,
Charitable Incorporated Organization (CIO) CIO Registered in England and Wales, Registered Charity Number: 1179853
Thank U Charity,
Dawes Road,
Dawes Road,Fulham,
London SW6 7EN
Contact
Email:library@thankucharity.org
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REAL JOY TO SAY
THANK U
A huge Thank U to the Lyons Family of Australia, our generous co-sponsor Honourees, all the individual donors, contributors, and supporters, alongside our School partners, whose recycling of books and educational material make our work possible.
Thank U Eco-Learning Centre Honourees
Helen Lyons – Helen Lyons Memorial Thank U Library (Posthumous)
John Lyons – John Lyons Thank U Vertical Farm
Thomas Lyons & Louise Keady (Thomas Lyons & Louise Keady Thank U Computer Lab)
The Thank U Charity Valued School Recycling Partners
Sacred Heart High School,
Hammersmith, London.
Fulham, London
Cockfosters, London
