Ghanaian actress and filmmaker, Yvonne Nelson, has recounted her senior high school days at Aggrey Memorial and explained how it was not a good place for her.
Yvonne Nelson noted that she did not have the best experience during her senior high school years.
“Aggrey was challenging for me. It was a place that I would… I do not want to use these words, but Aggrey was not the best of places for me.”
Yvonne Nelson
The mother of two noted that she was scared to attend classes due to the behaviour of certain teachers and the punishments they meted out to students. “So that was not helping,” she said.
Other things she highlighted from her time at Aggrey Memorial were the hygiene and the quality of food given out to students at the dining hall.
She explained that she was not aware of the current situation at the school; however, during her time at the school, the quality of food was not the best.
Yvonne said that such issues needed to be brought to light and talked about to prevent them from happening. “The food was terrible. Terrible,” she said.
Her remarks sparked a response from Eric Fynn Damtse, a teacher at Aggrey Memorial, who says he taught the actress back when she was in school.
Damtse criticised Yvonne Nelson for her negative portrayal of the school, suggesting that her dissatisfaction was due to her stubbornness rather than mistreatment.
“She will never speak well about Aggrey because of her stubbornness during those days. I taught her at Aggrey, and she should mention the name of a teacher who was going to beat students in that class. Liar. Her bitterness about the school is because she was made a day student due to stubbornness; she had to stay with a town folk at Ekon. Which school in Ghana was providing students with fried rice and pizza during her time. Students in all schools ate the same food. She should stop that nonsense.”
Eric Fynn Damtse
Former students at the school and some of Yvonne Nelson’s former classmates at Aggrey Memorial were not happy with the statements she made.
Some of them noted that despite the infrastructure in the school not being the best, the food menu was the best among other senior high schools in the country.
Former students lashed out at her in the comment section and urged her to be proud of her alma mater despite her unfortunate experience in the school.
“You were constantly suspended and finally expelled from the boarding house due to your stubbornness and escapades. I don’t expect you to like the school anyways.”
Adiepena Kuukua Asante-Agyemang
“C’mon gal, you speak so bitter about Aggrey but ask yourself which school laid a foundation for you into the entertainment industry? SMH”
Stephen Morgan
“Do you want us to tell the world your character back in school…tell the world why you were sacked from the boarding house in your final year..Aggrey had one of the best menu in Ghana during our time…..Such a bitter soul..mctweeeeeeeeee. Shame on you……..when did you even become a lady?? Were you not a Tom boy back in school?? Walking like a boy? Thread cautiously madam…..we know you…Segbefia kingpin.”
Naa Adokor Gyanfi Adotey
Yvonne Nelson Speaks Against Corporal Punishment
The Ghanaian actress and school owner expressed her disapproval of schools that use physical punishment on children.
She said no one has the right to touch another person’s child, adding that such discipline should only come from parents.
The actress explained that at her school, Yvonne Nelson International School (YNIS), teachers are not allowed to hit pupils.
She revealed that the school has rules in place to protect children from such treatment. According to her, discipline at YNIS is handled through time-outs and counseling. In serious cases, the school contacts parents as a last step.
Yvonne said she does not understand why some schools are comfortable with beating children, especially when there are other ways to correct them.
She added that physical punishment can affect a child, which is why her school has chosen a different path.
The actress started YNIS as a preschool, but in 2023, she expanded it to include a primary and junior high school. The school’s motto is ‘quintessential education’ and aims to provide quality learning in a safe environment.
Yvonne Nelson’s thoughts sparked reactions.
“The Africa child? The average basic school does not have all these infrastructure here. In the village, their parents go to the farm in the morning 6am and return 5pm.”
Courage Kwaku
“Judging from the comments, we have a long way to go as a country. Caning does not change a child or improve the quality of education in anyway. In fact, it has a more negative effect on the child than you may think.”
Michael Opoku Mensah
“She’s entitled to her opinion and we respect that..The level of recalcitrant behavior we seeing these days in our schools are too much.. In our part of the world there’s no other way ensure discipline than reward and punishment.”
Tobias Dunya
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