Sacred Heart College, Bamenda

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Sacred Heart College, Mankon (SAHECO) is a private Catholic boarding secondary school for boys in Bamenda, in Cameroon’s Northwest Region. It is run by the Archdiocese of Bamenda and is known for strong results in the Cameroon General Certificate Examinations. The current principal is Fr. Ernest Timchia Tubuo. The patron saint is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the school code is 11031. English is the language of instruction.

Founded on 21 January 1961 by the Mill Hill Missionaries, Sacred Heart College began with 30 boys to serve Bamenda students who passed the entrance exam to Saint Joseph’s College, Sasse. The first principal was Fr Thomas Mulligan. The school was officially opened on 8 July 1965 by Augustine Ngom Jua, then Prime Minister of West Cameroon. In 1978, it became a full secondary school with the addition of a sixth form.

In 2013 the college had about 880 students, 52 teachers and 21 support staff. Classes run from Form One to Five and High School. The houses are Saint Peter, Saint John, Saint Francis and Saint Thomas. The school’s colors are red, white and black, and students take part in sports such as soccer, basketball, tennis and volleyball. The school anthem is “O Sacred Heart, Our Home Lies Deep in Thee,” and the school newspaper is SAHECO Echoes.

The Sacred Heart College Ex-Students Association (SHESA) began in 1972. Alumni, called SHESANS or Mishe, stay involved through charity work and support for the school. SHESA has many chapters worldwide and recently started a SHESA Credit Union in Yaoundé. In 2011 the college celebrated its 50th anniversary with events around the world and the laying of a foundation stone for a new multipurpose auditorium. About 36 million CFA francs were raised during the Golden Jubilee.

Notable alumni include various figures in government, law, business and the arts, such as Nteff Alain (GiftedMom/Healthlane), Wax Dey and Ngoma, among others. The college also has a sister college, Our Lady of Lourdes College.