The Chairmen
They are Most Rev. Bonaventure Kwofie, Holy Child College of Education, Rt Rev. Francis Amenu, Evangelical Presby College of Education, Most Rev. Mathias Kobina Nketia, Our Lady of Apostle College of Education, and Dr Richard Asiedu, Fosu College of Education.
The ceremony became necessary because the four missed the inauguration of the governing councils of the colleges of education on March 4, 2015.
They are Most Rev. Bonaventure Kwofie, Holy Child College of Education, Rt Rev. Francis Amenu, Evangelical Presby College of Education, Most Rev. Mathias Kobina Nketia, Our Lady of Apostle College of Education, and Dr Richard Asiedu, Fosu College of Education.
The ceremony became necessary because the four missed the inauguration of the governing councils of the colleges of education on March 4, 2015.
Role of the council
In an address read on her behalf by her deputy, the Sector Minister, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, reminded the chairmen that their main task was to adopt the right approaches and practical interventions to achieve excellence in the colleges of education in the country.
“It is among these reasons that you have been chosen by His Excellency the President to strengthen the institutions to perform their functions effectively,” she said.
She said that the mandate of the council was to ensure that the colleges of education trained students to acquire the necessary professional and academic competencies for teaching in pre-tertiary institutions and non-formal education institutions and to build the professional and academic capacities of serving teachers through regular continuos education.
In an address read on her behalf by her deputy, the Sector Minister, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, reminded the chairmen that their main task was to adopt the right approaches and practical interventions to achieve excellence in the colleges of education in the country.
“It is among these reasons that you have been chosen by His Excellency the President to strengthen the institutions to perform their functions effectively,” she said.
She said that the mandate of the council was to ensure that the colleges of education trained students to acquire the necessary professional and academic competencies for teaching in pre-tertiary institutions and non-formal education institutions and to build the professional and academic capacities of serving teachers through regular continuos education.
Fair wages
Professor Opoku-Agyemang announced that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Review Committee had completed their work on the review of data for the migration of members of staff of the colleges of education in line with the Single Spine Grade Structure.
She said, “As we await the report of the review committee, let’s continue to play our roles effectively in ensuring a successful implementation.”
Professor Opoku-Agyemang announced that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Review Committee had completed their work on the review of data for the migration of members of staff of the colleges of education in line with the Single Spine Grade Structure.
She said, “As we await the report of the review committee, let’s continue to play our roles effectively in ensuring a successful implementation.”
Raising the number of trainees
Professor Opoku-Agyemang said despite initial agitations from some sections as a result of government policy to replace allowances paid to teacher trainees with the students’ loan, “I am happy that now we can all testify to the expediency of the policy”.
She explained that it was imperative to raise the number of trained teachers for a growing population, reduce the number of pupil teachers, enhance the image of teaching as a preferred profession and “have students enrol in our colleges of education because they choose to be teachers”.
The minister stressed that there was no better policy than that initiative and, thus, entreated the students to engage properly rather than be influenced by others with personal agenda.
“I, therefore, entreat chairpersons and members of council to familiarise themselves with ongoing issues in the sector to enable them to communicate effectively to all relevant stakeholders. I also implore your support in addressing all of the pertinent and occurring issues that always confront us in the sector,” Professor Opoku-Agyemang said.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang said despite initial agitations from some sections as a result of government policy to replace allowances paid to teacher trainees with the students’ loan, “I am happy that now we can all testify to the expediency of the policy”.
She explained that it was imperative to raise the number of trained teachers for a growing population, reduce the number of pupil teachers, enhance the image of teaching as a preferred profession and “have students enrol in our colleges of education because they choose to be teachers”.
The minister stressed that there was no better policy than that initiative and, thus, entreated the students to engage properly rather than be influenced by others with personal agenda.
“I, therefore, entreat chairpersons and members of council to familiarise themselves with ongoing issues in the sector to enable them to communicate effectively to all relevant stakeholders. I also implore your support in addressing all of the pertinent and occurring issues that always confront us in the sector,” Professor Opoku-Agyemang said.
Gratitude
The Council Chairman for Our Lady of Apostle College of Education, Most Rev. Mathias Kobina Nketia, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, expressed their gratitude to the President for the confidence reposed in them and promised that they would work hard to ensure that the students who would be admitted to the colleges of education got the needed training.
While thanking the Ministry of Education, he appealed for support from it to enable them to execute the work entrusted to them.
Source: Written by Severious Kale Dery, graphic.com.gh
