“The school started with 3 classrooms and a handful of students. When these students were registered for Senior Secondary School Certificate Exams (SSSCE) organised by West African Examinations Council (WAEC) after 2 years of training, 65% of them passed. This encouraged us. From here, there was no looking back. After 5years of Business education (marketing and accounting options), we added General Arts to our courses.”

“Just when we thought we had it all covered, we realised the need to start the diploma program by WAEC for a period of 1-2 years. This was to afford matured and elderly students who for one reason or the other could not go back to secondary school the opportunity to also gain admission into universities after passing the diploma course. With this certificate, they were eligible to start their university education from the second year. As a result of this diploma initiative, we have students in almost every tertiary institution in Ghana. Today, students come from all over Ghana to BCI.”

BCI also has hostel facility and an e-learning centre with 30 computers, all with internet access. Through prudent management and re-investment of school fees, the school now has 15 classrooms. The school is also building a junior high school complex at a different location and a 3 storey building complex at its current location. In the 2008/09 academic, one of our students was adjudged the overall best student in human resource. He graduated with a first class degree from KNUST.

One major challenge the school faces is negative attitude of parents and guardians at paying school fees of their wards. According the principal, though some can afford to pay, they refuse to pay because they claim they are either acquaintances or relatives. Some even go to the extent of seeing your parents so that they wouldn’t have to pay any school fees. That notwithstanding however, BCI currently offers full scholarship to about 40 needy but brilliant students who cannot pay tuition because of death to either or both parents.

BCI also wants to start what Mr. Ibrahim calls rural schools all over the 3 northern regions. Right now, plans are far advanced to initiate it in 3 communities at Dungu, Kpanvo and Taha all in Tamale because BCI has landed property there. “The school will be from nursery to primary 6. We intend to use our diploma students, who would be expected to teach up to two hours per day per teacher, Monday to Friday thereby building a good foundation for our future leaders. These ‘teachers’ will be available for at least 9 months within the year and at the same time earn decent monthly allowance. We want to create our own niche in these communities. We wont wait for them to complete JHS before we work on them, but we would rather develop students who can now compete and gain admission into first class SHS, Universities and obtain first class jobs”.

“If we are able to graduate 100 of such students, some will become bank managers, lawyers etc. Can you imagine the ripple effect it will have on our communities if even 25 of them return in 15-30years time to give back to their communities?” concludes Mr. Ibrahim Shamsudeen Taimako.

All I can say is that this vision needs the support of all and sundry. BCI is really the school with a difference. Well done.