O’Reilly SHS @100: Apaak appeals to O’Reilly Alumni to mentor next generation

Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has appealed to alumni of O’Reilly Senior High School to deepen their engagement with the school.

He urged them to monitor current students and offer greater support to the institution.

He made this call during the school’s centenary celebration held in Accra. The ceremony, themed “Steadfastness: An Endearing Value for Academic Excellence,” reflected on the school’s century-long contribution to Ghana’s education system and its role in nurturing leaders across diverse sectors.

Dr. Apaak praised O’Reilly’s alumni for the significant impact they have made in various professions, including medicine, law, engineering, education, and entrepreneurship. He reminded them that the reputation of the institution rests on their shoulders. “O’Reilly’s alumni carry the name of this institution wherever they go. Beyond personal achievement, you must continue to give back by mentoring the next generation, offering opportunities, and providing resources to sustain the school’s legacy,” he said.

He stressed that while government is committed to reforms such as Free SHS, infrastructure improvement, and teacher development, the active involvement of alumni is crucial for schools to thrive. He encouraged former students to create scholarship schemes, internship pathways, and career guidance programmes for current learners.

According to the Deputy Minister, the challenges facing education today, including technological disruption, globalization, and climate change, demand stronger partnerships between schools, alumni, and communities. He said the steadfast spirit that has sustained O’Reilly for 100 years should inspire alumni to remain connected to the school.

The celebration saw alumni from different generations returning to their alma mater, many of whom pledged financial and moral support to boost teaching and learning conditions. Some alumni also committed to offering mentorship and internship opportunities to current students as part of efforts to build a stronger bridge between past and present.

The anniversary concluded with a renewed call for alumni to act as role models and ambassadors for O’Reilly SHS as the institution begins its journey into the next century.