First degree will soon be the minimum requirement for teaching at any of the country’s education levels, Prof Kwesi Yankah, Minister of Tertiary Education, has been reported as saying.
According to a Ghana News Agency report, the move is part of the government’s strategic reforms in the teacher education space.
According to Prof Yankah, the upgrading of all colleges of education to universities was ongoing to ensure that teachers deliver quality learning outcomes in schools.
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The Minister explained that the policy was done with the support of the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development through the Transformation Teacher Educational Learning programme.
Prof Yankah, the report indicated, made the remarks at the inauguration of six Governing Councils of Colleges of Education in Accra to strengthen the educational institutions in an efficient and effective manner.
The Colleges are Akatsi, Bagabaga, Fosu, Enchi, St. Francis and Our lady of Apostle Colleges of Education.
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Read the full GNA report below
As
part of Government’s strategic reforms in the teacher education space,
first degree will be the minimum requirement for teaching at any of the
country’ s education system, Prof Kwesi Yankah the Minister of Tertiary
Education said.
Prof
Yankah said the upgrading of all colleges of Education to Universities
affiliated to the five public Universities was ongoing to ensure that
teachers deliver quality learning outcomes in schools.
This, the Minister explained, was done in collaboration with the support of the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development through the Transformation Teacher Educational Learning programme.
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Prof
Yankah said this at the inauguration of six Governing Councils of
Colleges of Education in Accra to strengthen the educational institution
in an efficient and effective manner.
The Colleges are Akatsi, Bagabaga, Fosu, Enchi, St. Francis and Our lady of Apostle Colleges of Education.
The Council members swore an oath of office and secrecy administered by the Prof Yankah who charged them to act as key players in decision-making processes in the educational system.
The
mandate of the Council members is to ensure that students were given
the necessary training to acquire proper professional and academic
requirement for teaching in pre-tertiary institutions and non-formal
education institutions.
He
also urged them to comply with the functions stated in the Colleges of
Education Act, 2012(Act 847) to approve the educational programmes
developed by the academic board, oversee internal organization of the
College, among others.
Prof
Yankah said “for institutional change and quality education to be
effective, the Governing Council should be viewed as an important arena
adding that these vital institutions comprised of personalities of
integrity, managerial skills and quality interpersonal skills”.
The
Minister stated that teachers were very important in the educational
system, as it was one key area of interest under President Akufo-Addo’s
government to ensure that teachers were able to ensure quality
educational outcomes in the various schools.
He
said the National Teaching Council which had successfully steered the
maiden Teacher License Examination, as provided by law under the
Education Act of 2008 (Act 778) which would ensure that candidates
acquire a professional license and prepare them for the demands of the
National Teaching Standards.
“Our
aim is to upgrade the capacity and improve on the quality of Teacher
Training to position our teachers to be able to respond to our education
needs and ensure that the teacher is properly equipped to deliver a
teaching and learning experience fit for the needs of the 21st century,”
he stated.
Prof
Samuel Famiyeh, on behalf of the Governing Councils, thanked government
for the confidence reposed on them, and pledged to work according to
their required mandate to improve education in the country.