A new academic year has dawned at Mater Ecclesiae School (MES), a school run by the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church ( SMMC) at Sokode-Gbogame in Ho- Volta Region and the excitement on campus is unmistakable.
On September 5, 2026, prospective Pupils streamed onto the school premises to sit for entrance examinations in Mathematics and Science; assessments designed to identify each child’s strengths and place them in the class best suited to their abilities.
About 30 candidates sat the exam that day, with more following after that day.
In conversations with parents who were waiting on their children as they took their exams on the day, a clear pattern emerged. Many said relatives had recommended the school, while others were already familiar with it; their older children had schooled there, and they had seen firsthand the discipline and strong academic results MES is known for.
Several parents pointed to the boarding facilities and the assurance that comes with a Catholic institution run by Catholic Sisters, praising the formation and discipline the Sisters instill.
One parent said she wanted more than academics for her daughter; she wanted a holistic education that would also nurture her faith. Across the board, parents described the fees as affordable given the quality of services the school provides.
Families travelled from across Ghana to enrol their children at MES; from Accra, Kumasi, Akosombo, Kpong, Kete-Krachi, Nkwanta, and beyond, underscoring the school’s growing reputation well past its Ho Municipality roots.
Speaking in an interview, the Headmistress, Sr. Philippine Dzormeku, SMMC, described what sets Mater Ecclesiae apart: a genuinely holistic education that develops the whole child. Beyond the classroom, the school offers boarding facilities for both boys and girls and competes in national academic contests.
Last academic year, MES placed third among six schools at the National Junior Challenge.
Sport and discipline are also central to school life. Last academic year, several student-athletes were selected to represent their district, and the school’s Army Cadet Corps trains interested students in physical fitness and discipline.
Spiritually, students take an active role in worship through their own choir, lectors(readers at church), drummers, and media team, and the school is working toward representation at the Universal Concept of Mental Arithmetic System ( UCMAS) competitions.
Mater Ecclesiae School is equipped to match its ambitions:
A well-equipped Science Laboratory and ICT Laboratory.
A well-stocked Library and a video room for learning through multimedia.
An infirmary, with the added assurance of proximity to Mater Ecclesiae Hospital for cases requiring urgent, higher-level care.
A well-stocked bookshop, stocking every year’s required books so parents are spared the stress of sourcing them elsewhere.
A well equipped sewing department where uniforms are produced in the school.
The school’s experienced teaching staff includes dedicated subject specialists across all disciplines.
Pupils who need extra support receive focused attention so no one is left behind, while gifted and talented pupils are actively encouraged to develop their abilities further.
By the end of last academic year 2025/2026, Mater Ecclesiae School’s total enrolment stood at approximately 544 pupils.
As the new academic year opens, admissions remain open. Some new pupils have already sat their entrance exams and have been placed in suitable classes, while others continue to join.
Admission to the boarding house is from age six for both boys and girls.
Sr. Philippine Dzormeku expressed heartfelt gratitude to both returning and new parents for choosing Mater Ecclesiae School, Sokode-Gbogame, and pledged that, with God’s help, the school would continue to deliver true value for every parent’s investment in their child’s education.
Mater Ecclesiae School traces its roots to 1993, when it was established as Mater Ecclesiae Preparatory School (MEPS) by the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church (SMMC); a local congregation of the Catholic Diocese of Ho. It began at Madonna House, the Sisters’ convent in Sokode-Gbogame, with just 30 kindergarten pupils; 20 girls and 10 boys.
The school’s mission is to form and transform children through holistic education, producing students equipped with knowledge, skills, and Christian and moral values; young people prepared to contribute meaningfully to their families, the Church, the nation, and especially to the poor and vulnerable, for the greater glory of God.
The original vision behind the school was to raise the academic standard available to children in the local community, at a time when rural public schools lagged behind their urban counterparts and many students were dropping out after struggling to pass the BECE.
Rooted in the spirit and charism of the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church, Mater Ecclesiae School sees itself as a seedbed for competent, faith-filled leaders; nurtured by dedicated staff within a familial, social, and religious environment.
Today, the MES family has grown: a Sister campus operates in Hohoe, Kwaekese in Donkorkrom in the Eastern Region and the same quality of Catholic education is offered at Donum Dei School in Kpando.
Both Mater Ecclesiae School campuses (Ho, Hohoe and Donkorkrom) run from Kindergarten through Junior High School and offer boarding facilities; Donum Dei School currently does not yet offer boarding.
Admissions are open now at Mater Ecclesiae School, Sokode-Gbogame; where academic excellence, and discipline, shape the leaders of tomorrow.
For admission enquiries, contact 0506013522/ 0244512962/ 0242343858.
By:
Sr. Angela Amoatwo, SMMC
Catholic Sister Communicators Network-Ghana (CASCON-GH)
