THE Atebubu College of Education in the Atebubu-Amantin District of the Brong Ahafo Region has held its first congregation at Atebubu on the theme: “Producing Quality and Disciplined Teachers: The Role of College of Education”.
In all, 410 students who completed the college in 2007, 2008 and 2009 graduated and were presented with Diploma in Basic Education (DBE) certificates.
The college, established in December 1965 as a teacher training institution to train certificate “A” teachers to teach in the basic schools in the country, was one of the 38 teacher training colleges in the country that was given accreditation to run the DBE programme by the National Accreditation Board in September, 2007.
With the passage of the Education Act 2008, Act 778, the Atebubu College of Education is now a tertiary institution affiliated to the University of Cape Coast.
The ceremony coincided with the unveiling of a bust of the first Principal of the College, Mr J.N. Ghansah, to honour him for his dedicated service and poineering role. The bust, which is sited in front of the administration block, was unveiled by Mr Alidu Fuseni, Chief Director of the Ministry of Education (MOE) and a past student of the college.
In an address read on his behalf, Mr Paul Effah, the Eexcutive Secretary of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), called on the Colleges of Education in the country to undertake research activities to generate new knowledge which would inform their teaching.
He noted that one of the greatest expectations of any institution at the tertiary level was to undertake research and it was, therefore, expected that the Colleges of Education would develop and strengthen their research activities as tertiary education institution to justify their new status.
Mr Effah added that promotions of academic staff of the various Colleges of Education would no longer be based on the length of service but on their research output.
Speaking on the theme, the Executive Secretary of the NTCE said often times, students of Colleges of Education referred to conditions in tertiary institutions and claimed they were unduly disadvantaged.
“Students of Colleges of Education make reference to the freedom that tertiary students enjoy for instance the wearing of what individual students consider decent, going to town without permission among others. It is important, to remember that as teachers, the future of your sons and daughters will be entrusted into your care. The children will look up to you for direction”, he said.
“This is why you should mould your character to be an example for the children to follow. Be committed to your work. Stay above reproach and strife for excellence”, he told the congregation.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, in his address, said the government was committed to provide and expand infrastructure at all levels of education to ensure quality teaching and learning in the country.
He stated further that the government’s campaign promise to establish a public university in the Brong Ahafo Region to be christened University of Renewable Natural Resources was on course.
Mr Fuseni, the Chief Director of the MOE, who also chaired the ceremony, called on the various Colleges of Education to secure deed titles to protect their lands for expansion now that they have been upgraded to tertiary institutions.
He urged the graduating students to take advantage of the opportunity offered them with the conferment of the Diplomas to pursue higher education since the certificates offered them were comparable to any other certificate for teachers worldwide.
Mr Ghansah, the first Principal of the college, reiterated the call on teachers to accept postings to the countryside where their services were needed most to help improve the lot of the people there.
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