Tema Secondary School

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The school was opened on Friday, 22nd September, 1961 with an initial intake of 52 students. The number increased to 105 by the end of the month. There were 3 Form1 streams [A, B and C]. These continued to the Sixth Form Level and turned out the first batch of students in 1968. The subjects offered at the 'Advanced Level were: English, Economics, Geography, History and Logic for the Arts and Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Pure and Applied Mathematics for the Sciences.

STAFF

The first Headmaster, Dr. F. K. Buah, was aided by a pioneer teaching Staff of 6 members made of the following: 1. Mr. A.E.K. Kabu Tei (of blessed memory) 2. Mr. S. A. Asante 3. Mr. N. S. Fiagbedzi 4. Mr. Victor Bampoe 5. Ms. Georgiana E. Shine 6. Mrs. Sophia Anderson And an ancillary Staff of 5, namely, 1. Mr. L. A. Odonkor - Bursar Grade II 2. Nii K. Allotey - Clerk 3. Mr. J. M. Danso - Clerk 4. Mrs. Maria Karikari- Matron Grade II 5. Mr. Anthony K. Boateng - Messenger

During the period under the stewardship of Dr. F. K. Buah, most of the School's infrastructure was put up. The school was, therefore, set off on a path that would progressively lead to what we now have. Mr. K. A. Yirenkyi assumed office in the 1975/76 academic year as the next head. His tenure saw an increase in student population matched by an expansion in the size of the infrastructure. The new classroom block, girl’s dormitory block and the Home Science block were then erected. Sporting activities were also tremendously encouraged as the Headmaster himself was a very keen sportsman.

The late Mr. E.L.A. Lamptey took over in 1982. His was a rather difficult and traumatic period which saw the mass exodus of teachers and other professionals to Nigeria as well as the deterioration of the physical structures of the school.

Other factors such as laxity, indiscipline among students, lack of essential text books and other educational materials and insufficient funding for schools added to the situation.

This persisted until the Economic Recovery and Structural Adjustment Programs came into effect.

In the latter part of 1986, when the school celebrated its Silver Jubilee the late Mr. E.W. K. Agbelie, who had been Dr. F. K. Buah's assistant from 1966 to 1974 assumed the headship. Mr. Agbelie worked assiduously to complete the revival of school life, achieving that in the face of meager financial resources and persistent pressure for admissions from both official and nonofficial sources.

Finally, towards the later part of the 1989/90 academic year, he was prevailed upon to go on retirement due to his failing health.

Soon afterwards, Mr. A. K. Agyepong assumed office. The school community then saw changes in the staff profile, physical layout and the rehabilitation of l buildings. Under him, academic performance improved markedly while the school's name became very popular in the field of Sports.

His dynamism was also reflected in the increased interest in and focus on Agriculture. When in 1997 he was transferred to Accra Metropolitan Education

Office, he was succeeded by Mr. E. Owusu-Ansah who focused on student discipline, and reorientation of staff attitudes and aspirations. In October, 1999 he retired from the Ghana Education Service and Mrs. Victoria Opoku acted as head until 1st May, 2001.

History was made on the 1st of May, 2001, when Mrs. Eunice N. Quansah, the first Best all round Leaver, was appointed the first Anchorite to head her Alma Matter. With her appointment, the dreams of the first headmaster, Dr. F. K. Buah, were fulfilled. In his speech on the school's Tenth anniversary, he had said, and I quote; “Great will be the joy, when in the not too distant future, an old pupil will preside over the school as a Headmaster”

STUDENT ENROLMENT AND STAFF POPULATION

The current student population is 1,557 made up as follows:

723 Boys and 834 Girls

561 Boys are Boarders and 162 are Day Students

519 Girls are Boarders and 315 are Day Students.

Teaching Staff number 72 and

Non-Teaching staff 59. (2001 figures)

Culled from 40th Anniversary Speech by the Headmistress

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