The Institute of Education (IoE) in collaboration with the Transforming Teacher Education and Learning (T-TEL) has organised a workshop for Coordinators of Supported Teaching in the various Colleges of Education in Ghana on “Field Experience in Schools”.

The training was to equip the coordinators to effectively supervise teacher-trainees in the Colleges for field activities previously known as teaching practice. From the 2018/2019 academic year, Colleges of Education would begin a four-year Bachelor of Basic Education programme, hence the need to expose the coordinators to the new curriculum as far as field experience was concerned.

In his opening address, the Director of IoE, Prof. Frederick Ocansey whose speech was read by Prof.  Christine Adu-Yeboah, said the workshop was the fourth in a series that have been outlined by the Institute to ensure a smooth implementation of the eight-semester B.Ed. Programme. She noted that for the past four years, the Institute has been part of the transformation that were occurring in teacher education adding that “One of which is the new 4-year B.Ed curriculum.

Prof. Ocansey explained that “the four-year programme has some unique features, which include the national curriculum framework and the national teaching standards that informed its formulation, as well as the new phase of supported teaching which is to be conducted every semester”.  He called on participants to keep an open mind about the opportunities available in order to be abreast of the changes taking place. He said this would enable their colleagues and students understand and commit themselves to the new ways of training teachers in the country.

The Chief Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Education on Teacher Education in Ghana, Mr. Akwasi Addae-Boahene, said T-TEL would support the Colleges to fully implement the new changes in teacher education.  He said T-TEL would fund internal capacity systems to allow them to function effectively to become University Colleges.

In addition, Mr. Addae-Boahene, indicated that T-TEL would provide financial assistance to regulatory bodies like the National Accreditation Board (NAB), National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), and the National Teaching Council (NTC) to implement appropriate policies for the realisation of the new developments in the education sector. Other institutions to benefit from funding include mentoring Universities of the Colleges and District Education Directorates.

The Provost of the College of Education, Prof. Eric Magnus Wilmot, took participants through the curriculum of the four-year B.ED programme and how field experience would be carried out.

The University of Cape Coast Access Course for Post Nursing Assistant Clinical (NAC) and Nurse Assistant Preventive (NAP) is being held in four centres in the countrtry.

The Access Course which started on Monday, October 22, is a refresher course to prepare Post NAC/NAP final year students who could not get credit for English, Mathematics and Science in the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The course is to prepare them to pass these subjects so as to qualify for the University’s Diploma in Midwifery Programme to be rolled out for Post NAC/NAP students.

Centres for Access Course

 Atibie NMTC in the Eastern Region is hosting the Access Course for students from Eastern, Volta and Greater Accra Regions, whiles Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) NMTC, Kumasi, is the centre for students in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions. Students from the Central and Western Regions have their centre at Cape Coast NMTC whereas those from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions are being hosted at Tamale NMTC for the Access Course.

Orientation for Access Course Students at Atibie NMTC

At an orientation programme for the students at Atibie, the Assistant Registrar, Institutional Affiliation Office, Mr. Justice Agyenim Boateng, entreated them to take the guided tutorials seriously and pass the examination in order to enrol on the Diploma Programme.

Mr. Boateng said hitherto, there was no clear path for  academic progression for Post NAC/NAP Certificate holders however, through the intervention of the Ministry of Health and the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the University agreed to design the Diploma programme to meet their needs. “A lot of consultation, efforts and work have gone into this programme and I don’t expect you to take your studies for granted, because this is a great opportunity for your academic and career progression,” he noted.  Mr. Boateng was accompanied by Josephine Jehu-Appiah - Junior Assistant Registrar at the Teaching and Examinations Section.

Briefing the team from UCC, the Principal of the College, Mrs. Pauline Osabutey, said about 242 students had reported for the Access Course on the first day.  She said all the necessary arrangements had been made for the students to feel comfortable for their studies. During a visit to Cape Cape NMTC, the Principal, Hajia Halima Opoku Ahmed, reported that 85 students had registered for the Course.

Interaction with Students at KATH NMTC

Interacting with the students, Mr. Boateng urged them to take into consideration the prospects ahead and put in their best to pass the Access Course examination to be able to continue with the Diploma programme. “After the Diploma, there are numerous opportunities for you to upgrade yourself to the PhD level” he urged them.

Addressing students at KATH NMTC, Kumasi, Mr. Boateng said the tutors for the Access Course have been instructed to guide the students in selected topics prepared by the Chief Examiners from UCC. He entreated them to learn and take part in classroom and group discussions to help them pass the examination. “I know most of you have made lots of sacrifices to take part in this course because, of your ambition to attain higher academic laurels and also rise through the ranks in the Nursing profession” he noted.

Mr. Boateng reminded the students to be motivated by the fact that they could now upgrade themselves in any University in the world after obtaining the Diploma from UCC. “Some of you have waited anxiously to see this dream come to pass so you cannot just relax and go home without passing the Access Course to do the Diploma,”

The Principal of KATH NMTC, Mr. Albert Opoku, said the College had recorded 440 students for the course.

Visit to Tamale Teaching Hospital NMTC

At the Tamale, Mr. Boateng interacted with 220 students who have enrolled on the Access Course at the Tamale Teaching Hospital NMTC. He assured them that the examinations would be restricted to topics they were being taught. The Principal of the College, Mr. Abdulai Abdul-Malik, said the needed support have been provided to ensure that the students study under a conducive academic environment. He commended UCC for playing a remarkable role in helping the students to be more useful to the society adding that “These calibre of Midwives who work mostly in the rural areas are very experienced and I know the Diploma programme will provide them with new set of skills to reduce further infant mortality in Ghana,” he noted.

An Alumnus of the University of Cape Coast, Mr. Steven Quartelai has donated a stove and a set of books to the Department of Hospitality And Tourism Management. 

Mr. Quartelai, who graduated from the University in the year 2000 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism made the presentation through Prof. Ishmael Mensah, the Ghanaian Director of the Confucius Institute and also a lecturer at the Department.

Receiving the donation, the Head of Department, Prof. Kwaku Boakye, expressed gratitude to Mr. Quartelai, for the kind gesture and pledged to ensure the items were put to their intended use to enhance teaching and learning.

Prof. Kwaku Boakye also called on other Alumni of the Department to support the Department‘s vision of building its own teaching hotel and office complex in the future.

The Department of Hospitality and Tourism has launched its 10^th Anniversary at a ceremony at the Main Auditorium.

Speaking at the function, the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ziblim Barri Iddi, congratulated the Department on achieving such a milestone.  He noted that tourism played a key role in contributing towards the development of Ghana’s economy. “Given the necessary support, tourism can open more opportunities for employment, foreign exchange and generally increase in people’s incomes through the value chain” he noted.

Dr. Iddi indicated that, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Industry has become global and highly competitive socio-economic environmental activity in both developed and undeveloped countries. “In Ghana the tourism sector accounts for 6% in total employment and 5.3% to GDP whiles growing at an average of 9% annually” he stated. He noted when the tourism sector was fully developed it would make Ghana a preferred tourist destination in Africa.

 As part of efforts to harness the potentials of the tourism sector for accelerated development, Dr. Iddi said the Ministry and its agencies were implementing strategic policies, plans and programmes that were geared towards increasing the contributions of the sector to the country’s economic development.  With these developments in place, Dr. Iddi said it was the expectation of the Ministry that the Department would continue to train highly skilled human resource for the sector and also build the capacities of personnel who were already on the field.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, commended the Department for producing graduates who were making positive impact in the hospitality and tourism sector in the country. He called on the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture to support the Department to become a Centre of Excellence in Hospitality and Tourism in Ghana to build capacity of players in the sector.

Prof. Oduro entreated the Department to initiate steps to address the “long waiting time” at hospitality centres in the country “There are times you have to wait for long before you are provided certain services at restaurants and hotel” he noted.   

An alumna of the University, Mrs. Roberta Dawson-Amoah, who is the Marketing Manager, said she was impressed about the research activities of the Department. She urged the Department to liaise with stakeholders to disseminate its research works to boost hospitality and tourism in the country. “You are doing all these work but Ghana stays out there as if there is no solution to problems in the tourism sector of our economy” he stated.  She urged students of the Department to make themselves relevant so that they would gain recognition even before they enter the job market.

The Chairman for the function, Prof. Lawrence K.  Owusu-Ansah commended the Department for living up to expectation over the 10 years of its existence in the University. “What is more important is the fact that most of the lecturers and professors come from within and this is an indication that the Department has guaranteed its existence into the future,” he noted. Prof. Owusu-Ansah wished the Department a successful celebration.

In his remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences said the Department has achieved a lot of success within few years of its establishment. He commended the Department for its role in training students, conducting research and building capacity of professionals in the industry.  He said the Department was one of the vibrant ones in the Faculty.

The Head of Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Dr. Kwaku Boakye said the Department had made significant achievements in the areas of capacity building, training high calibre of graduates for the industry and pursuing vigorous research aimed at improving and developing the hospitality and tourism industry. He expressed gratitude to lecturers, staff and students for contributing towards the successes of the Department. He called for support from stakeholders to enable the Department play its role in promoting and developing the sector.

As part of the launch, some students of the Department demonstrated a table set up for three course meal lunch.

Activities lined-up for the year-long celebrations include Tourism awareness creation, community and alumni engagements and grand durbar. He urged the students to reflect on the advice by alumni who spoke at the function in order to become responsible individuals at their workplace and in the society.

Present at the launch were the South Africa, High Commissioner to Ghana, Her Excellency, Hon. Lulu Xingwana, founding Head of the Department, Prof. Oheneba Akyeampong, lecturers, some heads of hospitality and tourism facilities in the country and students.