Enchi College of Education holds 10th congregation

Enchi College of Education in the Aowin Municipality of the Western North Region on Saturday held its 10th graduation ceremony in Enchi.

The students graduated with diploma in Basic Education and the session was for 310 students.

Mr Philip Ntaah, the principal of the College, mentioned that three graduates obtained first class while 70 received second class (upper division) with 119 coming under second class (lower division), 70 obtained third class and 48 students getting an ordinary pass.

He indicated that following the implementation of the four-year Bachelor of Education programme in the 46 public Colleges of Education at the beginning of this academic year were assigned to five traditional public universities for mentoring.

He said Enchi College of Education was affiliated to the University of Ghana and it takes effect from September 2019.

In enumerating some of the achievement of the College, the principal mentioned that they have successfully completed the implementation of the payment by result (PBR2) and the GRIP project with awards of GH¢30,000 and GH¢50,000 respectively.

The principal expressed worry that in 2020, the first batch of the free Senior High School graduates would be admitted into the college and called on government to help with the expansion of the existing facilities, adding that, they needed at least 600 capacity hall residence for students and 12 unit lecture hall.

Mr Ntaah said the Student Representative Council had been supportive in the fencing of the institution and appealed to corporate institutions and individuals to help them complete the project as scheduled to improve upon security on campus.

The principal mentioned the deplorable roads on campus, the new administrative block complex and staff bungalows abandoned for years, were some challenges confronting the school, and appealed to the government to come to their aid.

Speaking on the theme for the occasion: "Implementation of the new Basic school curriculum: The role of the teacher", Dr. Michael Amakyi, Director of IEPA at the University of Cape Coast, explained that the new curriculum was designed to equip learners with the needed foundation skills required for lifelong learning, national development and global citizenship.

He emphasized that when the curriculum was enacted, the Ghanaian learner would become a creative thinker, digitally literate and well rounded patriotic citizens.

Dr Amakyi said "The salient feature of the new curriculum is the introduction and emphasis on standards. This means that at every stage in school, a learner is expected to demonstrate understanding and mastery of relevant and grade level competencies".

He indicated that the expected knowledge and skills would be demonstrated through national assessment and this would provide opportunity to track the performance of learners.

"The new curriculum, which puts emphasis on literacy and numeracy, would become a reality only when teachers implement it with real students in real classroom" Dr Amakyi said.

Responding to the challenges raised by the principal, Mr Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu, the Western North Regional Minister, said this year, the government, through Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), has allocated an amount of GH¢372, 249.00 to Enchi College of Education for infrastructural development.

"I will get in touch with the GETFund to see how best a befitting administration block, staff accommodation, additional lecture theaters and hall residence will be put in place for the College to meet its status as a tertiary institutions" he said.

Mr Aboagye Gyedu announced that the Ministry of Roads and Highways had included all roads on campus in the upcoming phase two of Enchi Township roads construction.

The regional minister congratulated the graduands and tasked them to strive to exhibit the core values of the college.

Beyeoman Tano Kwaw II,Omanhene of Aowin Traditional Area, Member of Parliament (MP) for Aowin constituency, Mr Mathias Kwame Ntow and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE ) Mr Samuel Adu Gyamfi were among the dignitaries present.

Mr Eric Essien emerged the overall best graduating student while Miss Joyce Ansah won the best female graduating student.

They had a laptop each as their prize and the best graduating French student, Mr Bismark Adu Tawiah received a fridge.