JOSCO HOLD SECOND GRADUATION (PAGE 22, JULY 30, 2010)

THE acting Principal of the St Joseph College of Education (JOSCO) at Bechem in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Anthony Agyemang has called for a national debate on the code of conduct for teacher trainees in the country.
He stressed, ‘‘there is the urgent need for a code for teacher trainees that will ensure quality education at all levels. Yet, the accreditation of teacher training colleges has brought about calls for freedom without license. This is a great challenge’’.
Mr Agyemang made the call at the second graduation and awards ceremony of JOSCO at Bechem. The theme for the celebration was: ‘‘Infrastructural development: A prerequisite for quality tertiary education”.
The acting principal said, ‘‘We should focus on what students are being trained for instead of seeking freedom without responsibility; and if the teacher is going to expect pupils to request, ‘Please, teacher may I go out?’, then he or she needs to learn how to ask for permission while in college”.
Mr Agyemang stated that if the teacher was going to organise morning assembly in the basic school, then there was the need for him or her to attend morning assembly while in college.
He observed that if those who were admitted to the Military Academy and Training School, as well as students in the major seminary, some of whom were post-graduate students, were considered as tertiary students and as such had no freedom to themselves, how could the same not apply to students at the college of education?
Mr Agyemang noted with concern that the entry requirements of students admitted into the college had not been good enough over the years, citing for instance that, 26 out of the 276 students admitted last year had between aggregates 13 and 18, while the remaining 250 had between aggregates 19 and 24.
He said the institution which was established in 1948, currently had a student population of 805, comprising 605 males and 200 females, adding that the college could have admitted more students but the authorities were restricted by the quota system being enforced by the Ministry of Education.
He, therefore, appealed to the sector minister and other stakeholders to permit the college to increase its intake to be able to satisfy the many applicants.
He stated that the college had a list of 986 qualified applicants, but as many as 711 were unfortunate to be disappointed, adding “This has been the trend over the years”.
In a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, he commended the students of JOSCO for their decision to part with some of their monthly allowances to hire labourers to improve sanitation on campus.
He, however,said in the same spirit of sacrifice, the students should accept posting to the rural areas to offer dedicated services to their less unfortunate little brothers and sisters to enable them to enjoy the benefit of quality basic education.
The minister announced that time was due for JOSCO to benefit from basic infrastructure needed to fulfil its dream of becoming a university college through the provision of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT)/Library complex with Internet facilities, among other facilities.
A number of personalities received awards for their various contribution towards the growth of the college.
They included the Omanhene of the Bechem Traditional Area, Nana Fosu Gyeabuor Akoto II, the Catholic Bishop of the Goaso Diocese, His Lordship Peter Kwaku Atuahene and the Chaplain of the college, Monsignor Matthew Addai.