A History of the Presbyterian Women’s College, Aburi

Entrance to the Presbyterian Women’s College (my own photograph).
Entrance to the Presbyterian Women’s College (my own photograph).

Amidst the patriarchal landscape of nineteenth-century Ghana, educational opportunities favored boys while relegating girls to domestic roles. Recognizing the importance of educating girls, the Basel Mission (BM) established the primary girls’ boarding school in Aburi in 1858. However, it is imperative to critique the mission’s approach, which aimed at training women in accordance with Eurocentric ideals of female domesticity and motherhood. This essay examines the history of the institution, starting as the first girl’s boarding school in Aburi in 1858 and evolving into the Presbyterian Women’s College in 1928.[1] It critiques the concept of equality that initially motivated its establishment in the face of the prevailing power structure and societal roles that relegated women to the background.

During our visit to the Presbyterian Women’s College, I was captivated by how the students there diligently fulfilled their responsibilities. Madam Cynthia Anim, the college’s principal, shared insightful comments that sparked my curiosity. Delving into the history of the institution became a compelling interest of mine following this visit. I became interested in learning more about the background of the college and the impact of the BM on women’s education.

The site of the girls’ boarding school became a major mission location and a place for experimenting various activities. From the 1900s the mission experimented with a number of schools, including a girls’ grammar secondary school, primary school, middle school, teacher training college, and an early grade school. The institution also produced the first early grade book known as “Kan me Hwɛ.”

In 1916, the girls’ senior school (middle school) was established, allowing primary school graduates to move on to the next level on the same site. However, the First World War affected the smooth running of the schools. The British colonial government deported the Basel missionaries from their mission stations at the Gold Coast since most of them were of German origin; the colonial government thus suspected that the missionaries might work against them since the British were at war against Germany. The British government replaced the Basel missionaries with Scottish missionaries from Kalabar, Nigeria. Three Scottish female teachers, Miss Wallace, Miss Sutherland, and Miss Gray, arrived in Aburi in 1920 to take over the schools. In 1923, there were some staff changes at the school. Miss Mackillican replaced Miss Gray, who moved to Calabar in Nigeria. Miss Mackillican’s arrival marked a significant development. She introduced a class on teaching methods, which later blossomed into a full-fledged Teacher Training College. Another noteworthy addition came in 1925, when Miss Moir opened the country’s first kindergarten class at the school. This program continued under the leadership of Miss Beveridge, known for her educational materials, with assistance from Miss Ophelia Som. Miss Beveridge, authored the “Kan Me Hwe” series of readers for schools in the Twi-speaking areas of Ghana and was assisted by Miss Som.[2]

In 1928, the British government approved the teacher training college for women in Aburi, and in 1946, the girls’ secondary school also opened on the same campus. However, both schools moved to their current location in 1953 and 1954, and the secondary school is the popular Aburi Girls’ Senior High School. It is worth noting that the leadership of the female principal Mrs. Mackillican from 1928 to 1953 earned the school this feat. Mrs. Juzi continued as principal from 1954 to 1963 and the first Ghanaian principal was Mrs. Kwapong from 1963 to 1980.[3]  The graduates of the college went on to become leaders in various fields, breaking barriers and making a difference. Pioneers of this institution include Jane E. Clerk, a Gold Coast schoolteacher and an administrator of public education.[4]

Old classroom block at the Presbyterian Women’s College (my own photograph)
Old classroom block at the Presbyterian Women’s College (my own photograph)

The Aburi Presbyterian Women’s College has remained at the forefront of women’s education in Ghana. It has been equipping generations of young women with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel. The BM’s steadfast dedication to women’s education served as a catalyst for a profound societal transformation. This commitment to creating a space for educating women aimed to shape their traditional gender roles. These traditional gender roles included domestic skills like cooking, washing, cleaning and childcare. While honing the skills of women in this direction seems good, it is worth noting that the men at Akropong training college were not trained to shape any traditional roles. The gender dynamics here is that while women were trained to be wives, men were not trained to be husbands. This emphasizes that the Basel missionaries seem to have perpetuated traditional gender roles by equipping women with skills expected of wives, including managing a household or raising children, while not offering similar training for men. This reinforces the idea that these domestic duties were thought of as solely a woman’s responsibility. Focusing solely on skills for domesticity limited women’s career options outside the home. The men at Akropong, on the other hand, received training that opened doors to a wider range of professions.

The Presbyterian Women’s College, born from the BM’s efforts to uplift women was a wonderful idea that has enhanced generations of women to gain valuable knowledge and confidence within its walls. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the limitations of the BM’s approach. Their focus on Eurocentric ideals of domesticity, while equipping women with skills, ultimately reinforced unequal gender dynamics.

The message I carry forward is this:  Education must empower women to reach their full potential, without being confined by traditional roles.

Portrait Edwina Conna
About the author:Edwina Conna

With a passion and steadfastness for matters concerning society, my interest has shown in my pursuit of knowledge by studying history and political science at the University of Ghana. I have a wide variety of interests but particularly matters of historical significance, political and cultural understandings, along with depictions and reflections of the law in our society. Alongside my studies, I actively contribute to the media team and play a vital role in performing secretarial duties at church.