The Vice-Chancellor Prof. D. D. Kuupole has paid working visit to some Colleges of Education (CoE) in the Volta, Eastern and Greater Accra Regions to strengthen the long-standing relationship between the University of Cape Coast and the Colleges.
The visit was to afford the Vice-Chancellor opportunity to listen to their concerns and also explain issues regarding the upgrade of CoE to tertiary status. The Vice-Chancellor was accompanied by a team from the Institute of Education (IoE) comprising the Director, Prof. Frederick Ocansey; Coordinator, Research and Publication, Dr. (Mrs.) Alfredina Kuupole; Senior Assistant Registrar, Mr. Prosper Nyatuame and Accountant, Mr. Daniel Abina Dwaase.
Colleges of Education Act 2012
Interacting with management and staff of the colleges at separate meetings on their campuses, Prof. Kuupole praised the colleges for maintaining a cordial relationship with UCC since the 1970s. He noted that the passing of the Colleges of Education Act 2012, Act 847, by the Parliament of Ghana meant that CoE has now been upgraded to the status of tertiary institutions. He said the act enjoined CoE to be formally affiliated to a University that would mentor them to carry out their mandate of training competent teachers for the basic schools. “The Act provides that the development of academic policies, regulation of courses, development of academic standards, the conduct of examinations and award of diplomas should be undertaken in consultation with an affiliated institution,” he stressed
Capacity Building for CoE
The Vice-Chancellor indicated the new status of CoE meant that the forty (40) public and six (6) private colleges of education had to position themselves to be seen as such. He noted that based on the new development, UCC would continue to support the colleges by building the capacity of teaching and administrative staff to deliver up to expectation. He said aside from the regular workshops for principals and tutors, the UCC intend organising training workshops for the colleges on zonal and regional basis adding that “Colleges that need tailor-made training can make a request and it will be organised for them.”
Speaking on opportunities for the upgrading of tutors of the colleges, Prof. Ocansey said UCC has designed new M. Phil and Ph. D programmes for the 2016/2017 academic year which the tutors can take advantage to upgrade themselves. The new programmes are Measurement and Evaluation, Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Teacher Education.
Research and Publications
On research and publications, Dr. (Mrs.) Kuupole reminded the tutors of the colleges that because of their new status as tertiary institutions, they would be promoted based on their research output and publications. She informed them of the Journal of Educational Development and Practice at IoE which some tutors from Akatsi College of Education have already published their articles. She said a training workshop would be organised to help the tutors develop skills on writing research articles, proposals, position papers and grants.
Colleges Visited
Some of the colleges the team visited were Peki College of Education, Peki; E. P. College of Education, Amedzofe Holy Spirit College of Education, Akatsi College of Education, Akatsi all in the Volta Region. In the Eastern Region, the team interacted with management and staff of Mt. Mary’s College of Education, Somanya; Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong and Presbyterian Women College of Education, Aburi. The team also visited Ada College of Education, Ada and Accra College of Education, Madina in the Greater Accra Region.
The team also addressed students in some of the colleges they visited. Some of the concerns raised by the Principals and tutors of the various colleges where the newly introduced Academic Progression Policy for students in the CoE; Memorandum of Understanding between UCC and the Colleges; Supervision and marking of examination scripts. Others were New Curriculum for CoE and Challenges surrounding the migration of CoE to tertiary institutions.