Public Colleges of Education to be converted into University Colleges by October - Minister

In line with the government’s plans to make the service conditions of trained teachers much better, the Deputy Minister of Education, Mrs. Barbara Asher Ayisi has announced that government is taking steps to convert Public Colleges of Education into University Colleges of to enable them to offer a four-year Bachelor of Education Programmes from the current three-year diploma courses.

She disclosed that plans are also far advanced for government to set up a Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) University College of Education with one campus in every region in this respect latest by October 2018.

With this development according to the Minister, students from technical and vocational institutes will be legible for admission into the TVET University Colleges across the country.

The Deputy Minister of Education who doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Cape Coast North announced this when she addressed the 11th annual congregation at the Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) College of Education, Cape Coast.

Mrs. Asher Ayisi observed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has education at all levels at heart and most especially teacher education which critical to the free Senior High School policy which started in September last year.

It is for this reason, she stressed that the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) government worked very hard to ensure that the restoration of Teacher-Trainee allowances did not only remain a promise but became reality.

Mrs. Asher Ayisi said the government did not only restore the allowance but also took the bold steps to pay the feeding grant of Teacher-Trainees which had been in areas for over five semesters according to MyNewsGH.com’s Central Regional correspondent, Hajia Asana Gordon

She observed that the quality, competence, and character of teachers can be described as the most significant factor influencing the quality of education and its contribution to national development.

To this end, she stated that the Ministry of education has also developed a curriculum framework and teaching standards to be used as a blueprint to guide all teacher education Colleges to develop the appropriate curriculum tailored to meet the needs this country.

She, therefore, made a passionate appeal to young and energetic teachers to accept their calling as a challenge for them to affect the lives of generations of school going age children and make them worthy citizens that will work to turn the destiny of the country around for the better.

On, her part, the Principal of the College, Reverend Sister Elizabeth Amoako Arhin who graduated 330 students charged them to make the future generation agents of change since they are joining the teaching force.

Reverend Amoako Arhin who doubles as the President of the National Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education hinted that the resources of teachers have not always been fairly and equitably distributed and charged the graduands not to wait until they have all the resources before they can deliver.

“The future of Ghana’s education is in your hands and you cannot afford to fail us. It’s important to note that there are as many challenges as there are opportunities in the adult world. Your success will depend on how you tackle the challenges and utilize the opportunities that come your home way” she charged.

According to the President of the National Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education, very serious challenges facing most Colleges of Education and OLA for that matter is the lack of critical staff including internal auditors, Colleges registrars, librarians, maintenance officers among others to support in the administration.

Reverend Amoako Arhin said since the embargo on recruitment six years ago, retirement or transfers is making the running of the College extremely difficult.