This forum was also used to discuss the Association’s financial update and to initiate plans for the mini convention to be held in 2018. The three-day HOGA National Executive meeting ended with a Thanksgiving service at Hallowell Memorial United Methodist Church, Yonibana. This is a typical culture of Harford School, demonstrating its Christian religious values instilled in its pupils.
Harford school for Girls is located in Moyamba town, Southern Region, which lacks major social services like water and electricity. Key projects identified in the school’s strategic plan include refurbishment of the school and boarding departments, installation of a solar light system, plumbing and water supply, a utility van and re-building of the school clinic which was burnt down during the rebel war. The National executive is kindly appealing to the Government of Sierra Leone and donor agencies to support these projects for improved quality education and wellbeing of girls.
At the national executive meeting, the School Principal, Mrs Isatu Peacock highlighted major achievements of the school in 2016 which include a 100% pass in the Basic Education Certificate Examination among 92 candidates, for which the school received a gold medal for excellent performance, awarded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. In addition, Harford School had 31 out of 48 candidates (65%) who passed at least five subjects in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Furthermore, the Principal received the ‘Principal of the year’ award by the Kids Advocacy Network owing to the school’s outstanding performance and excellent representation by Matilda Mammah, one of its SS2 Science pupils at the House of Parliament during the International day of the Girl celebration 2016, organised by PLAN International.
Founded on 27th November 1900, Harford School is now 116 years old. It is the first secondary school in the provinces and has produced many successful women in Sierra Leone and beyond. The school has qualified and dedicated teachers, boarding facilities, Library, Science, Home Economics and computer laboratories with internet facilities that attract pupils and teachers across the country as well as internationally. Harford School is also one of the schools benefiting from the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Programme which provides opportunities for girls to spend an academic year at schools in the United States of America to strengthen their academic base and expose them to international cultural diversity. The school is based on strong Christian and moral values, non-partisan, equal treatment and cultural diversity which fosters strong amicable relationships among its pupils. The cordial relationship transcends the walls of Harford School and has contributed to the exemplified strong old girls’ association emulated by many schools. HOGA, which also has strong bases in the United States of America and United Kingdom, provides support to the school including scholarships for girls, school materials, incentives to teachers, running of the administration and infrastructural development among many others.
Before the ten year civil conflict in Sierra Leone, HOGA had branches in all districts across Sierra Leone. Due to the breakdown in economic and social structures as a result of the conflict, some of the district branches have become dormant. The National HOGA executive is working with old girls in the various districts to revive the district branches in order to give HOGA its national base on which it was founded. The President of HOGA, Mrs Anne Koroma is calling on all old girls of Harford School to become members of HOGA to enjoy the love and support shared among the membership as well as help develop their Alma meter ‘Mother Harford’ as commonly called among them.
