Freetown Secondary School for Girls
School History
The Freetown Secondary School for Girls, (F.S.G.G) was founded on January 20, 1926, by several outstanding Sierra Leoneans, including an English Missionary, Mrs. Ejesa Osora. The purpose was, and still remains, to provide a full and complete educational environment for girls. Mrs. Osora's contribution and dedication gave the school its first name, "Osora School". At its opening it had just 20 students. Today its population has grown to 2,200. The school is located in the central part of the city.
After Mrs. Osora returned to England, several Sierra Leoneans picked up the torch and kept the school going with a combination of private funds and occasional grants. The name was later changed to The Freetown Secondary School for Girls and was, for many years, the only school that provided educational opportunities from kindergarten through secondary school. This flexibility allowed the F.S.S.G to be the first female institution to include boys in the nursery and kindergarten departtments. A boarding school was also added later.
The Hannah Benka-Coker Memorial Residence was opened in 1958. It afforded girls from the provinces of Sierra Leone and other African countries a chance to earn their education at a time when tradition and culture acted as barriers to educating them. Mrs. Benka Coker died in 1952 at the young age of 49, but the present school buildings stand as a monument to her life's work.
The Board of Trustees approved the building of a science laboratory, which was completed in 1967, and a pure science curriculum was introduced at the school. In October 1978, the A-level science curriculum for female students from other secondary schools was introduced at the site of the FSSG science building.
The ex-pupils were challenged by the late Mrs. Benka-Coker to actively support the school in its very inception. Ex-pupils have answered this call and have been involved in the school's operation and administration. They have worked closely with the Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors.
Like most institutions in the capital, the school was attacked in 1999 during the war. The compound and buildings were used by militants as accommodation. At the return to civilian rule, reconstruction activities began but the lack of funds slowed these activities considerably. The needs are great for rebuilding the school and providing an educationally safe environment for students. Today, with a parent body in Freetown, there are a number of branches around the world, including in London, Washington D.C. Atlanta, The Gambia, The New York Metropolitan branch and most recently The North Carolina chapter . These associations have worked on several projects to support the school and the students.
Former FSSG Building
