Teachers asked to familiarise with standard guidelines

Professor Eric Nyarko-Sampson, Dean, Faculty of Educational Foundation, College of Education Studies at University of Cape Coast has asked teachers to familiarize themselves with the National Teachers Standards guidelines.

He said the guidelines were developed as professional tool to enhance performance and charged teachers, especially fresh graduates to make good use of the document.

Prof. Nyarko-Sampson said this at the 12th congregation of the St. Teresa's College of Education (TERESCO) in Hohoe in the Volta Region.

He said though teachers were trained as professionals, they needed to abide by standard guidelines to be effective, competitive and perform above par.

The occasion was on the theme: “Quality Teacher Education; The role of Colleges of Education in promoting the National Teacher Standards in the 21st century Teacher.”

Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu (SVD), Catholic Bishop of Ho Diocese and the patron of the College said effective supervision was one mechanism, which could ensure that after all the inputs were provided and interventions made, the two main actors in the educational sector- teachers and students would be made to do what was expected to achieve desired results.

Ms. Sophia Adjoa Micah, Principal of St. Teresa's College of Education said despite academic achievements, the College had inadequate teaching staff.

She appealed to government to grant financial clearance for the College to engage additional staff.

Ms. Micah commended the College's Student Representative Council (SRC) for acquiring poly tanks to address water shortage challenges and helping with the College's fence wall.

She said frequent power outages were major concerns with issues of safety for the students and disruptions for study.

Ms. Micah appealed to government to release funds for the College to complete its staff accommodation, the College's fence wall, begin work on the renovation of the administration block and the College's multipurpose auditorium.

She expressed management's gratitude to partners and sponsors who assisted the students during their field experience and mentoring programmes.

Mr. John Peter Amewu, Minister for Energy and Petroleum commended the graduands and tasked them to effectively make use of the training they acquired as students.

He assured that work would soon begin on roads in the region as part of the many road projects under the Sinohydro Master Project Agreement.

He promised to provide a generator to the College to solve the power fluctuation challenge.

A total of 383 graduands received certificates in Diploma in Basic Education with Madam Okah Deborah Mawutah adjudged overall best graduating student.