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Committee's
Annual Report 2005/2006
The Swiss School – Meeting
Place, Place of Learning, Home
A Meeting Place:
The Swiss
School is a place where people of different backgrounds, cultures, training
and circumstances meet. For many, Ghana is a foreign country, full of
the unknown. In the midst of its capital city Accra, the Swiss School
represents a safe haven where we can all meet and interact. In this
respect, the Swiss Club also offers a platform where such interactions can
take place, and we are grateful for that.
A Place of Learning: Of course, RMS
is first and foremost a place of learning, a school in which our children
are expected to “acquire sound knowledge”. Learning is more than just
cramming for exams. The encounter with the unknown is very much a part
of the learning process. The multicultural character of the Swiss
School fortunately offers the pupils a perfect chance to widen their horizon
by becoming acquainted with other cultures.
A Home: The functions
and celebrations at the School are always experienced as a ”piece of home”
by the parents and friends of RMS. They meet up with friends and
acquaintances, interact and discuss issues that concern them all, and also
their problems. For us as a family, RMS was just such a place last
year, and we were thankful for it. Now that our stay is coming to an
end, we realize what we will be missing.
Personnel Matters – Projects – Celebrations
With Mr Bopp, an extremely
motivated and experienced headmaster has taken over the helm and is steering
the school ship in a sovereign and compelling manner. We are happy for
his independence in taking care of the day-to-day running of the school.
As happens every year, there
will be a changeover of teaching staff, with Mrs Okoli, Mrs Huber, Mrs
Deppe, Mrs Gupta and Mrs Pearman leaving at the end of the school year.
New arrivals include Mrs Biedermann as head of Kindergarten 2, Mrs Adebayo
as class tutor for the 5th/6th Grade, Mrs Platzeck as
class tutor for the upper school, and Mrs Liversage as English teacher.
To those who are leaving us we express our sincere thanks for their service,
their commitment, and the time spent together. To the newcomers, we
extend a hearty welcome – Akwaaba!
The Committee also loses the
following members: Susanne Holzem, Dr Wolfram Fischer, Bernhard Schmid,
Volker Visarius and its chairman, Dr Martin Knispel. Sincerest thanks
for the many hours invested in meetings, and for all the thinking that went
into them! A new president and new members will be presented for
election at the next Annual General Meeting.
At the centre of activities
stood the 40th anniversary of RMS Swiss School, and this was
copiously celebrated in February this year. Even the unexpected
rainfall at this time of year was not able to spoil the fun. Our
celebration embraced the public, newspapers, two television stations,
politicians, ambassadors, and naturally, pupils, parents and friends of the
school. It was well worth all the hard work, as the school was able to
present itself in the best possible light and can be perceived as a modern
and recognized centre of education in Ghana.
The financial situation
remained relatively stable, as enrolment figures have stayed at more or less
the same level for the past three to four years. We may not attain
great heights with our approximately 80 pupils, but we can survive – thanks
largely to the grants we receive from Switzerland and Germany. Should
there be cutbacks, however, we would have to weigh our options anew.
At long last we have submitted
the new application for the renovation of our school to Canton Zurich.
The old application had to be revised and corrected. The plan was
presented at the 40th anniversary celebration and was widely
accepted. We now hope to receive rapid approval so that this
long-cherished plan can come to fruition in 2007. When completed, the
school will have a new appearance, a better layout of rooms, and thus
present a more attractive image.
As outgoing president of the
School Committee, I wish to say thank you for all the hard work and support
to the teachers, the headmaster, the administration and the local staff of
the school, as well as to the parents, the Committee, and the staff of the
Swiss Club, which renders such great service.
Please direct any enquiries,
suggestions or even criticism that you have to the teachers, headmaster or
Committee members, who are all ever ready to help in any way they can.
We wish the school success in
the new school year, an intake of happy and eager children, a motivated
staff and a joyful coexistence.
On behalf of the Committee
Dr
Martin Knispel
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