Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary History
Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary
History
Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary (formerly St John’s Seminary and College, nicknamed POJOSS), is an all-boys boarding school, located at Effiduase, Koforidua, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It was established in 1958 by Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers SVD as a Catholic seminary for boys who wished to become priests. Students are offered courses such as general arts, general science, business and visual arts to pursue and after their stay in the school, sit an external examination called the West African Senior School Certificate Examination to be placed in any of the tertiary institutions in the country.
The students of the school are usually referred to as Pojomma while the alumni are addressed as Pojoba, to which they respond Daasebre. Since its establishment in 1958, the school has achieved many successes and has produced great men for Ghana and the world over. There are 2100 boys in the school.
Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers
On 8 November 1953, Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers SVD,[3] Catholic Bishop of the then Diocese of Accra, now Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Accra came to the New Juabeng Traditional Area in Eastern Region, Ghana on his first pastoral visit. He held discussions with Nana Frempong Mposo II, chief of the area, which led to the Roman Catholic Church mission acquiring land at Effiduase in Koforidua. Father Anthony Bauer and Fr. Henk Janseen were then asked to survey the land and their report was favorable. Early in 1955, Bishop J. O. Bowers decided to build a junior seminary for the Diocese of Accra on that land. In January 1955, Fr. Jude SVD, Dr. Balduricus and Dr. Lucian Orians came to construct the first buildings, one classroom block and a combined Fathers’ residence and administrative block. In early 1957, Dr. Damian Brockmann SVD constructed the first Science Block. Today in its place stands a students’ dormitory called Elsbend House, named after the first headmaster. In October 1957, Bishop Bowers appointed Rev. Fr. Alphonse Elsbend[4] as the first Headmaster and Seminary Rector, assisted by Rev. John O’Sullivan and Rev. Joseph Skorupka and Bismark Sosu. The school’s chapel was constructed the following year in 1958.
Admission Process
New students are admitted every September through a computerized system managed by the Ghana Education Service.
Admission is based on the Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E) results, held annually for junior high school students at various centers nationwide.
Entry forms for the B.E.C.E examination are obtained from the West African Examination Council (W.A.E.C) through junior high school headteachers.
After the computerized selection process, the Ghana Education Service releases the admission list to the school, which is then posted on the school’s notice board.
Foreign nationals can apply for admission through a written entrance examination organized by the school.
Students from other senior high schools or fresh senior high school starters can contact the school’s administration directly using the contact information provided.
Upon admission, students receive the school’s official prospectus, which outlines requirements and expectations.
Course Offered
General Arts
General Science
Business
Visual Arts
Information
Category – Grade A School
Gender – Boys
Housing Status – Day/Boarding
Year of Establishment – 1958
Name of Head – XXXXXXXXXX
Contact Details
Name: Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary
Contacts: XXXXXXXXXX
Region: Eastern Region, Ghana
Location: Koforidua, Akwadum road
Ghana Post GPS:
Email:
Website: