Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary (formerly St. John's Seminary and College, abbreviated as POJOSS) is a Catholic all-boys boarding school located in Effiduase, Koforidua, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Established in 1958 by Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), the school was originally founded as a seminary for boys aspiring to become priests.
The school offers programs in general arts, general science, business, and visual arts, preparing students to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), a prerequisite for admission into tertiary institutions in Ghana. The student body comprises approximately 2,100 boys, who are colloquially referred to as "Pojomma," while alumni are known as "Pojoba," with the response "Daasebre" serving as a cultural identifier among them.
Mission
The school aims to provide academic instruction alongside moral and disciplinary guidance, preparing students for both educational and personal development by the time they complete their studies.[1]
On November 8, 1953, Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers, SVD, then Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Accra (now the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Accra), visited the New Juaben Traditional Area in the Eastern Region of Ghana on a pastoral mission. During this visit, he held discussions with Nana Frempong Moposo II, the local chief, which facilitated the acquisition of land at Effiduase, Koforidua, for a Roman Catholic Church mission.
In early 1955, Bishop Bowers initiated plans to establish a junior seminary on the acquired land for the Diocese of Accra. The site was surveyed by Father Anthony Bauer and Father Henk Janseen, whose reports supported the development. Construction began in January 1955, with Fr. Jude SVD, Dr. Balduricus, and Dr. Lucian Orians overseeing the building of a classroom block and a combined residence and administrative facility. In early 1957, Dr. Damian Brockmann, SVD, constructed the first science block, later replaced by a dormitory known as Elsbend House, named after the first headmaster.
In October 1957, Bishop Bowers appointed Rev. Fr. Alphonse Elsbend as the first Headmaster and Seminary Rector, supported by Rev. John O'Sullivan, Rev. Joseph Skorupka, and Bismark Sosu. The school's chapel was completed in 1958.
Opening
On January 21, 1958, St. John's Seminary and College officially opened with an initial enrollment of 45 students, comprising 14 seminarians and 31-day students across two forms. The teaching staff included three SVD priests appointed by the Bishop and one Ghanaian lay teacher, Mr. Paul Ohene-Boakye, who assisted in the students' academic, moral, and religious education.
In June 1958, electricity was extended to the school at a cost of £45. The first Speech and Prize-Giving Day took place on July 20, 1961, with Rev. Maurice Lesage, SVD, then headmaster of St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School in Accra, serving as the guest speaker. Prizes were distributed by Nana Frempong Moposo II, the chief of Effiduase. By this time, the school's enrollment had grown to 113 students, including 23 seminarians and 90-day students.
Pius Kpeglo, the Senior Prefect of the seminary and school, successfully completed his G.C.E. examinations and was awarded a scholarship to study philosophy and theology at the Diocesan Seminary in Regensburg, Germany, departing on August 7, 1961.
Change of Name and Absorption Into the Public Education System
From 1958 to 1968, St. John's College operated as a private Catholic institution funded by the Catholic Diocese of Accra and student fees. However, the high cost of maintaining the school led Father Fredrischs, the second Headmaster, with the approval of Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers, to apply for the school's incorporation into Ghana's Public Education System under the Ministry of Education.
On September 1, 1968, the school was absorbed into the Ghana Education Service as a government-assisted secondary school. Its name was changed to Pope John Secondary School and Junior Seminary to distinguish it from other Catholic schools in Ghana named "St. John." The new name honored Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, while preserving the identity and mission of the original institution.
Following the 2007 Ghana education reform under the administration of President John Kufuor, the school was renamed Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary.
Pope John XXIII
Growth and development
The foundation laid by the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) Fathers under the supervision of Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers has contributed to the significant growth and development of Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary. In July 1992, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Koforidua was established, gaining autonomy from the Metropolitan Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Accra. Most Rev. Dr. Charles G. Palmer-Buckle became the first bishop of the new diocese, which assumed responsibility for managing the school within the Ecclesiastical Province of Accra.
Currently, the school has a teaching staff of 92 and a non-teaching staff of 85. It accommodates over 2,000 boarding students, including nearly 100 seminarians. Since its establishment, approximately 8,000 students have graduated, with over 100 alumni ordained as Catholic priests, including Archbishop Charles G. Palmer-Buckle
The school uniform, nicknamed "the Reflector," consists of a yellow shirt paired with blue shorts or trousers. The yellow shirt is typically worn with shorts, while only Form 3 and final-year students are permitted to wear trousers. The uniform may be complemented with a school tie and blazer.
Additional attire includes the school cloth, an African print outfit (referred to as "African wear"), and house jerseys. House jerseys, each in a specific color representing a house, are primarily worn during sports activities.
Culture
Pope John Senior High School maintains a strong Roman Catholic culture, which influences many aspects of its operations and activities. By convention, the head of the school and key student leadership positions, such as the senior prefect, student chaplain, and their assistants, are typically members of the Catholic faith.
The school celebrates Founders' Day Mass annually, both on campus and in various locations across the country. Several administrative student units operate independently to assist the school administration in governance and discipline. These include the Students' Representative Council (SRC), the Prefectural Board (TPB), the Editorial Board, the Entertainment Board, the Chaplaincy Board, and the School Cadet.
Curriculum
Pope John Senior High School follows the Ghanaian Senior High School curriculum, operating on a three-year academic cycle from Form One to Form Three. The academic year is divided into three terms, with the first term marking the enrolment of Form One students and the third term culminating in the graduation of Form Three students.
The school offers programs in General Science, General Arts, Business, and Visual Arts. Form One students select four elective courses based on their chosen program of study, while core courses are mandatory for all students. The core courses include English Language, Core Mathematics, Social Studies, Integrated Science, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Physical Education. However, external examinations are conducted only in the first five core courses.
As a school with a seminary attachment, Pope John Senior High School also offers subjects unique to its Catholic tradition. These include Religion, Doctrine Studies, Latin, and Music.
Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary is equipped with modern facilities, including a science laboratory, an ICT center, a library, a multipurpose athletic field, and basketball and volleyball courts, among others.
The development of these facilities has been supported by the school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), the Students' Representative Council (SRC), the Roman Catholic Church, and the Old Boys' Association (POJOBA). The school administration oversees the effective utilization of these resources to enhance teaching and learning.
Chaplaincy
POJOSS Chapel, constructed in 1958The Sacred Heart of Jesus monument
Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary has a chaplaincy, led by a chaplain appointed by the Archbishop of Accra. The chaplaincy serves as the headquarters for religious groups such as the Catholic Students Union (CASU), the Legion of Mary, Eastern Region, and the Sacred Heart Confraternity, Eastern Region.
The chaplaincy is responsible for organizing events like the annual St. Thomas Aquinas Day celebrations and the Kwahu-Tefo pilgrimage in the Eastern Region. The current chaplain is Rev. Fr. Joel Yao Kwame of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.
Annual events
Throughout the school's academic season, events are held to enhance the formation of students in addition to academic work. They are as follows
Founders' Day celebrations
Each year on January 21, Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary holds a Holy Mass to commemorate the founding fathers of the school. The mass is celebrated by the alumni at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, while students also participate in the celebrations at the school. The Holy Mass, which precedes the festivities, is officiated by alumni-priests of the school in Accra
Homecoming Reunion
Alumni of Pope John sing in the school choir at an outdoor mass during a Home-coming event.
This event gathers all alumni of Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary at the school for recreational activities, socializing, and networking. During the event, former students deliver motivational talks to the current students..[2]
Speech and Prize-Giving Day
Dr. Omane Boamah presenting an award to a teacher at the 58th Anniversary celebration of the school
A speech and prize-giving day is held to award long-serving teachers and students who have excelled in all areas of their formation; academic work, sports and social life.[3]
SRC Symposium and Funfair
This event is organized by the student administrative unit to bring together all sister schools and schools within the locality for educational symposiums, entertainment jams and socialization. Occasionally, schools from the Greater Accra Region, Ashanti Region and Volta Region are invited. The event is given a unique name by each group of administrators every year.
St. Thomas Aquinas Day celebrations
Also known in student circles as Tom Aqua, it is organized by the chaplaincy of the school. It brings together all Catholic students within the Eastern Region to honor their patron saint, St. Thomas Aquinas and discuss matters affecting them.[4] Under the 2001/2002 executives of the Koforidua Diocese Catholic Students Union (KODCASU) the St. Thomas Aquinas Day was institutionalized. The first was organized on 2 February 2002 at the St. George's Cathedral, Koforidua. The main celebrant of the Holy Mass was Most Rev Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, then Bishop of Koforidua. Notable among the students were Mr. Emmanuel Obeng Codjoe (now Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obeng Codjoe) who was the Students' Chaplain of Pope John at the time.
Inter-house athletics
This event is organized by the Sports Department to award students who distinguish themselves in field and track events. It also serves as an avenue for sport boys to be picked in representing the school at National Athletic Competitions.
Elections
General elections are organized every year to select new prefects and student administrators for the SRC.
There are staff bungalows and teachers' flats where instructors of the students reside. There is also a Fathers' residence which hosts the school's chaplain and other priests of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Koforidua.
Houses
There are currently seven houses available for boarding students who require a stay throughout a term:
Pope John wins National Independence Day Debate 2000. Team members include renowned Ghanaian journalist Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, second from left.2013 National Independence Day Debate Victory
Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary maintains a very high academic standard and has over the years distinguished itself in the areas[6] of Science, Business, and Arts. In 2012, the school placed 9th on the WASSCE order of merit (Education in Koforidua) and POJOSS has emerged victorious in many inter-school academic competitions.[7] A survey indicates that POJOSS contributes over 60% of its students to tertiary institutions around the globe every year. Also, in 2015, Pope John Senior High School came 1st in the WASSCE rankings.
Members of the choir pose for a picture after Sunday Mass
Students of Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary are involved in Extracurricular activities through their membership in clubs and societies. This has brought out the talents in many of the students and has been used in securing victories for the school through debates, quizzes and boot camps. They include:
Due to the large size of the school and student body, the administration has been decentralized to the students' level to ensure the maintenance of a high standard of discipline in the school. At the helm of student administration is the Students' Representative Council, headed by a President with two assistants who perform the role of Senior Prefects as well.[18]
POJOSS and Society
The Pope John community has through the decades maintained a very cordial relationship with society, especially with the Roman Catholic Church, the town of Effiduase in Koforidua and sister schools across Ghana.
Alliances
POJOROSA
A cartoon published in the 2012 edition of the POJOMAG illustrating the relationship between Pojoss and Roses
POJOROSA is the acronym representing the alliance between Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary, and St. Roses Senior High School. This alliance has been made manifest in the marriages of alumni of the two schools. Teachers from St. Roses have taught in Pojoss and vice versa. Alumni from Pojoss have also returned the gesture and taught in St. Roses. Annual programmes organized by the two schools are often well attended by students of the schools as a gesture of the friendliness they bear toward each other. Apart from all these, Pope John and Saint Roses share the same heritage in their founding fathers, the SVD missionaries.
But now it is POJOKRO. It is the collaboration with Pojoss students and Krobo girls. The bond has been a strong bond for the past years. Pope John Senior High School and minor seminary teachers teach in Krobo senior high school and vice versa.
POJOKRO
POJOSS' relationship with Krobo Girls' Senior High School has also resulted in the birth of POJOKRO: Though many see this as an impossible alliance since Krobo Girls' is a Presbyterian school, the students have often tried to breach that divide by inviting students of Krobo Girls' to some of their annual programmes.
The Roman Catholic Church
The church maintains a cordial relationship with Pojoss. Many of the school's alumni have become Roman Catholic priests for the dioceses all over Ghana. The school's boys' choir has performed at many Catholic events including the burial mass of their founder, Joseph Bowers. Catholic programmes are often held in Pope John, notable among which is the Sacred Heart Congress.
Electoral Commission of Ghana
Pojoss remains a polling station where elections in Ghana are concerned. Members of the school staff are often employed as polling officials in every general election of the country.
The academic campus of Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary is used weekly as a weekend campus for Koforidua-resident distant learners offering courses at the university. Some of the school's teaching staff also give tuition at these weekend lectures.
Affiliations
The Roman Catholic Church
The establishment of Pope John was a vision initiated by the Roman Catholic church. It is therefore known as a Catholic school. The seminary continues to receive funding from the church to support the formation of seminarians.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
There is an informal relationship with KNUST. Most of the university's senior lecturers including its immediate past vice chancellor are alumni of Pope John. Additionally, a considerable number of alumni are enrolled in KNUST annually. In 2012 under the Community Impact Program, KNUST donated books to the school's library and supervised the renovation of its science lab.
Rivalry
There exists a friendly rivalry between Pope John Senior High and St. Peter's Boys Senior Secondary School, Nkwatia. Inter-school programmes are therefore held termly to promote unity and cordiality among students of the two institutions.
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