How Royal Academy Started
In 2006, Reverend Father Isaac Benuyenah travelled to Canada and worked in the towns of Edam, Cochin Jackfish, and Glaslyn (near North Battleford in Saskatchewan) as a Catholic pastor. He wanted to raise money for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in the Kpando Municipality, since he had previously funded their education off books he had written. Fr. Isaac collected cans, bottles, and tetra-paks in Canada and recycled them. In five months, he raised $2,000 CAD from these bottle drives.
When he returned to Ghana in 2007, however, Fr. Isaac realized the need for a private school in Wusuta. Parents enrolled their children in private schools in Vakpo and Anfoega, since they perform better than public schools. These children have to walk 10-20 kilometres a day, under the hot sun or in the rain, just to get to school and back home. The toll on these children and the cost to their parents deeply affected Fr. Isaac.
By consulting with his Local Ordinary and the Regional Manager of Catholic Education, Fr. Isaac met with key stakeholders in the Church and the Wusuta community to discuss this issue. A decision was made to establish a private school in the community which would provide education to the HIV/AIDS orphans as well as other vulnerable children in Wusuta.
With the $2,000 CAD that Fr. Isaac raised, a four-unit classroom block was built along with 80 dual desks, and the needed textbooks were purchased within three weeks. On September 10, 2007, Royal Academy School opened with 21 pupils, three teachers and one financial clerk. Presently, the school has 260 pupils from Kindergarten to Junior High School Form Three (or Grade 9). There are 15 permanent staff members and two long-term volunteers from Germany.
When he returned to Ghana in 2007, however, Fr. Isaac realized the need for a private school in Wusuta. Parents enrolled their children in private schools in Vakpo and Anfoega, since they perform better than public schools. These children have to walk 10-20 kilometres a day, under the hot sun or in the rain, just to get to school and back home. The toll on these children and the cost to their parents deeply affected Fr. Isaac.
By consulting with his Local Ordinary and the Regional Manager of Catholic Education, Fr. Isaac met with key stakeholders in the Church and the Wusuta community to discuss this issue. A decision was made to establish a private school in the community which would provide education to the HIV/AIDS orphans as well as other vulnerable children in Wusuta.
With the $2,000 CAD that Fr. Isaac raised, a four-unit classroom block was built along with 80 dual desks, and the needed textbooks were purchased within three weeks. On September 10, 2007, Royal Academy School opened with 21 pupils, three teachers and one financial clerk. Presently, the school has 260 pupils from Kindergarten to Junior High School Form Three (or Grade 9). There are 15 permanent staff members and two long-term volunteers from Germany.