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President and Chairman of Groupe Nduom (GN) companies, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has re-emphasised the need for the country to start implementing the policy of Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) but upgrade it to cover Senior High School (SHS) education. He explained that the given global competition and national development needs, the senior high school education should be the minimum qualification of every Ghanaian. That, he explained, will help produce quality human resource for the development of the country. Dr. Nduom made the call when he commissioned a GHC500,000-ultra-modern dormitory for his alma mater, St. Augustine�s College (Augusco,) at Cape Coast in the Central Region at the weekend. He said no Ghanaian child should be denied education, adding that the framers of the 1992 Constitution deemed it right when they stipulated the need for the country to implement the FCUBE after 10 years to boost the manpower capability of the country. �Education for me is very essential and at this point in time, we all have to work hard to make educating every Ghanaian child boy or girl a requirement,� Dr. Nduom underscored. According to the president of GN companies, the experience he went through during his educational period encourages him to give back to society. He pointed out that both his mother and his father were teachers and from time, he went through financial difficulties whilst a student in St Augustine�s College. ��and it was through the help of many benevolent people that I have become who I am today,� Dr. Nduom revealed. He continued: �When I entered this school [St Augustine�s College] in 1966, my father had become jobless as a result of the 1966 military coup . I was one of the students who were sentt home from time to time due to non-payment of school fees. I had to go through a whole lot of financial stress to be able to complete my Senior High School (SHS) education. At a point when I got to the United States of America, I had to get a job quickly to raise funds to pay St Augustine�s the fees I owed in order to get my transcript sent to the university I was attending,� he recounted. ��so you see, I did not come to be the Nduom you know overnight� that is why I am passionate about FCUBE to enable every Ghanaian child have access to quality education then extend it up to the SHS level,� he explained. Dr. Nduom also used the opportunity to call for the return of missionary schools to the churches. That, he said, will help shape the spiritual foundation of the youth. He commended the school and the Catholic Church as well as his family for helping in shaping his �moral and spiritual life to enable him to become who he is today.� The Catholic Archbishop of Cape Coast, Most Rev. Matthias Kobina Nketsiah, commended past students of the school and the Parents Teachers� Association (PTA) for their immense contribution to the school, adding that �but for their efforts some of the things we are enjoying today will not be here.� He was also full of praise for Dr. Nduom whom he described as an �illustrious son of St Augustine�s College� due to his continuous support for the school and Ghanaians in general. �I�m sorry to deviate a little but I am overwhelmed with the selflessness of this great illustrious son [referring to Dr. Nduom] of ours and his enormous contributions to the welfare of thousands of Ghanaians. It�s a pity that he is not getting what he needs from us as a nation,� he stated while shaking his head. He expressed the hope that the facilities will encourage the students to learn hard, saying �if you are prepared to learn, you will succeed.� For his part, Headmaster of St Augustine�s College, Mr. Joseph Connel, also lauded Dr. Nduom for his continuous support for the school and observed that such gestures will enhance quality teaching and learning. He gave the assurance that the school will put the facility to good use and continue to inculcate good morals and high academic standards in the students. The headmaster also appealed for an urgent provision of a school bus for the College to address its transportation needs. Omanhen of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, who was present at the event, stated that the school is lucky to have someone like Dr. Nduom. On that score, he charged the students to get inspiration from him and other icons the school has produced to attain greater heights. The programme was chaired by the Augusco Past Students Association (APSU) National President, Dr. Tony Ernest Osei. Among the dignitaries who attended the event included the Cape Coast Metropolitan Education Director, Mrs. Florence Inkoom, the APSU 1990 year group who will take up the school�s next year speech and prize giving day and a number of Dr. Nduom�s classmates including Mr. Jude Bucknor, Mr. John Lindsey, Mr. E. Buadoo, Mr. Samuel Quarshie, Dr. Francis Dickson, Mr. Patrick Anumel, Commodore Timothy Appiah and Gabriel Abanyie. Family members of Dr. and Mrs. Nduom and General Managers of Groupe Nduom companies also graced the occasion. Special songs made for Dr. Nduom were sung by the school choir to officially commission the dormitory which was named after Dr. Nduom. The dormitory, which was built by Yorke Properties (YP,) a member of Groupe Nduom companies, within a 12-month period, has the capacity to accommodate 150 students, and a detached-three separate two-bedroom flat for teachers. It also has an Information Communication Technology (ICT) center. The facility has a study room, a library, a visitor�s syndicate room and a huge court yard for recreational activities. The entire dormitory is well-furnished with mattresses including the teacher�s flats with beds and sitting room furniture. Meanwhile, Mrs. Nduom is also constructing a 1,500-seater auditorium for her alma mater, Archbishop Porter Girls Senior High School, in the Western Region.