Mrs. Cecilia Agyei-Amoako, Proprietress of Hilltop International British (HIBS) School in Kumasi, has dismissed the long-held perception that the institution charges exorbitant school fees, describing such claims as false and misleading.
She said although HIBS had established itself as one of the leading private schools in the Ashanti Region, its fees remained competitive and affordable compared to schools offering similar standards of education.
“Our fees are very moderate. The impression out there is that Hilltop School charges in dollars. That is never true. We charge in Ghana cedis, and when you compare our fees with schools on our level, you will realise that they are very reasonable,” she said.
Mrs. Agyei-Amoako made the remarks in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the 12th graduation ceremony of HIBS in Kumasi.
The graduation was held on the theme: “A New Phase Begins: Shaping Tomorrow with Cambridge Experience.”
A total of 73 students graduated from various levels, including Primary, Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary and Cambridge Advanced Level, to the next stage of their academic journey.
Mrs. Agyei-Amoako explained that Hilltop School, which has operated for nearly 30 years, runs both the Ghana Education Service curriculum and the Cambridge International curriculum to provide parents with diverse educational options.
She said the institution had also expanded to include a senior high school to enable students to continue their education within the Hilltop system.
She noted that Hilltop School earned the title “Hilltop Platinum School” years ago after receiving recognition from the Ayekoo Foundation for the outstanding academic performance of its students.
She encouraged parents seeking quality education for their children to visit the school and interact with management instead of relying on misconceptions.
“If you have any doubts, come and speak with us. We are committed to giving every child quality education in a safe and nurturing environment at reasonable fees,” she said.
Addressing the graduating students, Mrs. Agyei-Amoako urged them to remain confident as they progressed to higher levels of education.
She said the school had equipped them with the knowledge, discipline and values needed to excel wherever they found themselves.
“Go out there with confidence and let the world know where you are coming from. We believe you are fully prepared for the future, and we wish you every success,” she said
Mr. Patrick Kwesi Essiam, Head of the school, said quality education depended not only on academic curricula but also on the calibre and temperament of teachers entrusted with children.
He said the school attached great importance to recruiting teachers who possessed the right attitude, patience and passion for working with children, stressing that academic qualifications alone were insufficient.
“Not everybody is fit to handle children,”he said, explaining that teachers must have the temperament to nurture, guide and understand learners at different stages of development.
Mr. Essiam said the school also invested in continuous teacher training to ensure that teachers adopt modern teaching approaches that reflect the changing needs of learners.
He observed that education is evolving rapidly and teachers must continually update their knowledge and methods to remain effective in the classroom.