RESTRUCTURE CURRICULAR OF COLLEGES OF EDUCATION (PAGE 20)

THE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education of Winneba (UEW), Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw has suggested the restructuring of the curricular of Colleges of Education in the country for them to produce skilful, well informed and confident teachers.
Such teachers, he said, could then contextualise their teaching to make teaching and learning in schools relevant to the needs of the society and the learners.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw also suggested that the organisational structure of the colleges should be re-examined to reflect in the change from Teacher Training Colleges to Colleges of Education, adding “There is the need for a total transformation from a non-tertiary to tertiary institutions”.
The vice-chancellor made the suggestions when he addressed the maiden graduation ceremony of the Berekum College of Education (BETCO) in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He called for honesty on the part of staff in terms of students’ continuous assessment and the conduct of end of semester examinations.
In all, 256 graduates were awarded diplomas.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw further stated that as a matter of urgency, principals of the various colleges should set up committees from among their staff to plan for the reshaping of the institutions to befit their tertiary status.
He stressed the need for teachers to be empowered so that they could help the nation to realise the purpose for which the government embarked on the current educational reforms.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw observed that teacher empowerment was a process which made school participants develop the competence to take charge of their own professional growth and resolve their own problems.
According to the vice-chancellor, issues that readily came to mind on teacher empowerment included teacher participation in curricular development, assessment participation, providing the right training and retraining (in-service training), economic empowerment and conducive teaching environment such as providing the right equipment, adequate facilities and right leadership.
He stressed that, the staff of the various colleges should be well motivated, well trained and retrained and equipped with all the necessary requirements to be functional teachers in tertiary institutions.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw emphasised that excellence in any learning enterprise, whether at the pre-school or university level was directly linked to the professional preparedness, dedication and willingness of the teacher.
The Principal of BETCO, Mr Yaw Adjei-Sarkodie stated that the college which started in 1953 with an intake of 51 students and seven-member teaching staff, now had a population of 932 regular students and 1,359 sandwich residential students and staff strength of 39.
He, however, said there had not been a corresponding expansion in the residential facilities for students and staff of the school.
According to Mr Adjei-Sarkodie, in most cases, two members of staff shared a two-bedroom bungalow with their families.
He said for that reason, the college was not able to attract its full complement of staff and retain tutors in subject areas where the competition was high.