Stories and facts
Tamale Senior High School, formerly known as Government Secondary School, Tamale, Gbewaa Secondary School, and more recently Tamale Secondary School, is a co-educational boarding institution located at Education Ridge, a suburb of the Sagnarigu Municipality.
Established in 1951 by the British Colonial Authorities, it was the first second-cycle institution in the Northern Territories of Ghana.
The school is selective, admitting students based on their Basic Education Certificate Examination results and, for international students, a special entrance examination prepared by the school.
The courses offered include Business, General Science, Home Economics, Technical, General Arts, and Visual Arts.
Tamale Senior High School is highly prestigious in Ghana, known for its significant history and prominent alumni. Among its notable former students are a head of state, two vice presidents of the fourth republic of Ghana, a speaker of parliament, two Supreme Court justices, two Chiefs of Defence Staff, and various government ministers and parliament members.
The school began as Government Secondary School, Tamale, developed from an existing middle school called the Tamale Senior Boys School. It was the first secondary school in the Northern Territories under British Colonial Administration.
The school was established to bridge the human resource gap between the North and South of the then British Colony. Over the years, it has undergone several name changes, becoming Gbewaa Secondary School in 1972, then Tamale Secondary School, and now Tamale Senior High School.
Originally, the school admitted only students from the Northern territories but later opened to students from the south. Admissions are based on BECE results, with a computerized system selecting students based on their raw scores.
International students are admitted through special entrance examinations. In its early years, students from the Northern territories were selected based on exams in English and Arithmetic, and those who passed were awarded scholarships.
The Special Northern Scholarship Scheme was later established, allowing talented individuals from the Northern territories to gain admission and pursue higher education at the Central Government's expense. Notable beneficiaries included John S. Nabila, who later became Minister for Information and Tourism during the Limann regime.
The school began with twenty boys in 1951 and enrolled its first female students by 1958. As of December 15, 2021, the student population was 3,638, with 1,682 females and 1,956 males. The school is approaching a 50 percent enrollment rate for both genders due to high demand.
Initially, the curriculum included English, Mathematics, Science, History, Latin, Geography, Citizenship, Hygiene and Physiology, Agriculture, Music, Arts and Crafts, with crafts such as Cloth Weaving, Book Binding, Leather Work, and Pottery.
Today, the school offers Business, General Science, Home Economics, Technical, General Arts, and Visual Arts. Students choose their courses before writing their BECE exams, and the computerized system places them into their preferred courses.
Tamale Senior High School has eight halls of residence: Tamakloe House, Gbewaa House, Pattinson House, Nkrumah House, Hayfron House, Wemah House, Gbadamoshi House, and Bawumia House.
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