Enchi College of Education holds 10th graduation ceremony

Enchi College of Education (Enchico) located in Aowin Municipality in the newly created Western North Region has observed its 10th graduation ceremony at the College Auditorium over the weekend.

The college which was established over five decades ago has been facing various challenges.

In his welcome address at the 10th graduation ceremony, the Principal of the college, Mr. Philip Ntaah has lamented about the challenges facing the college such as deplorable campus roads and pavements, encroachment on college lands, abandoned projects, inadequacy of facilities, vehicles for supporting teaching in schools, recruitment difficulties amongst others.

Mr. Ntaah said, the design of the new 4-year degree program has both the third and fourth year students to be on campus.

"Come next year, the Free Senior High School graduates would be seeking admission into colleges of education. This, therefore calls for an expansion of our existing facilities. We need at least a 600 capacity hall of residence for students and 12-unit lecture hall to promote effective teaching and learning", he appealed.

He lamented that "Another major challenge of the college is the deplorable campus roads and pavements. We have a very nice and greenly landscape but the campus roads and pavements are now virtually deplorable, making life on campus unbearable".

The Principal said despite the numerous challenges facing the college, they were able to chalk some successes such as students’ performance, excellence award, teaching and learning, walling of the college and main entrance, renovation of facilities, professional development and strategic direction.

Mr. Ntaah said, it was gratifying to note that academic work on campus has improved tremendously as tutors now adopt modern and interactive approaches to teaching and learning with a flavor of Information Communication Technology integration.

"The T-Tel teaching model has brought to the fore new pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning which have been adopted by both tutors and students", he added.

On his part, the guest speaker, Dr. Michael Aamakye, Director at the Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (I.E.P.A) at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) said the theme for the 10th graduation ‘’Implementation of the new basic school curriculum; the role of the teacher" was well appropriate.

He said implementing a curriculum requires teachers to shift from the current modus operandi which they are familiar with to the new or modified ways of delivering instruction.

Curriculum implementation can be seen as a process of professional development and growth involving ongoing interactions, feedback and support to one another. When a new curriculum is introduced and mandated, the teacher‘s first task is to find out how to use the new curriculum as beneficially as possible.

Dr. Amakye said the role of teachers in the curriculum implementation is to help learners develop an engaged relationship with the curriculum.

He emphasized that "Teachers are to be creative in enacting the planned curriculum and put their unique stamp on the classroom experience".

The Minister for the newly created Western North Region who was also the special guest of honour at the 10th graduation ceremony, Mr. Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu said His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo upon resuming office has restored teacher trainees allowances that was abolished by the previous government.

The measure has attracted many qualified individuals to enroll in colleges of education to be trained as teachers for basic schools.

Mr Aboagye Gyedu said having attained the status of tertiary institution, colleges of education in the country need mechanisms to safeguard academic and professional standards that would promote learning opportunities of acceptable quality for student teacher in the country and to achieve their aspirations to be part of the dynamic and knowledge-based economy of the world.

The Paramount chief of Aowin Traditional Area, Byeoman Tano Kwaw III appealed to government, philanthropists, cooperate bodies, individuals and Non-Governmental Organizations to support the college with infrastructure development.