Cape Coast, July 16, GNA – Plans
are far advanced for Government to turn five Private Colleges of Education
(CoE) in the country into public institutions.
This is in line with its pledge
to expand access to CoEs to increase teacher supply to basic schools.
Speaking at the inauguration of a
1,600-seating capacity auditorium for Our Lady of Apostle College of Education
in Cape Coast, Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, Education Minister, said
Government would soon commence the construction of three new CoEs, one to be
located in the Central Region, by close of the year.
She said the five private
Colleges are St Ambrose College of Education in Dormaa Akwamu and Al-Faruq
Islamic College of Education in Wenchi, both of the Brong Ahafo Region; Bia Lamplighter College of Education in the
Western Region, Gambaga College of
Education in the East Mamprusi Municipality and St Vincent College of Education
at Yendi, both in the Northern Region.
Work on the auditorium, funded
through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) at a cost of GHȼ 627,162.25,
began in September 2004 and was expected to be completed in 2006.
The delay was due to the lack of
funds and alteration of plans due to the nature of the site and its proximity
to the sea.
Prof Opoku Agyeman said
Government is also implementing the four-year Transforming Teacher Education
and Learning Programme at a cost of 17 million pounds to support teacher
trainees.
She said the inauguration of the
Council of CoE was to ensure that the students were trained to acquire the
professional and academic competencies for teaching in pre-tertiary
institutions and non-formal education institutions.
The Minister described the
various interventions as an indication of Government’s commitment to the
advancement of education in terms of quality and relevance.
He said Government would not
relent in achieving its goal.
She urged authorities of
educational institutions to prioritise projects so that they would be completed
on time and urged the OLA CoE, to make judicious use of the facility.
Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah,
Central Regional Minister, expressed worry about the number of uncompleted
GETFund projects in the region and urged the Ministry of Education to ensure
that they are completed before new ones are started.
He urged teacher trainees to lead
exemplary lives wherever they are posted to since society looked up to them not
only for knowledge but on moral uprightness.
Rev Sister Elizabeth
Amoako-Arhin, Principal of the OLA CoE, recounted how students assembled for
school functions under trees and in open spaces at the mercy of the weather,
prior to the completion of the auditorium.
She expressed gratitude to
Government, saying the project is an indication of Government’s commitment to
the promotion of teacher education.
She appealed to Government to
complete the remaining projects being undertaken at the College.
Osabarima Kwesi Atta II,
Paramount Chief of Oguaa, advised teacher trainees to take their studies
seriously to effectively discharge their duties as teachers.
GNA