The College of Education Studies (CES), University of Cape Coast (UCC) has organized a public lecture and exhibition. The lecture, on the theme, “College of Education Studies @ 60: Past, Present and Future" was also part of activities lined up for the 60th anniversary celebration of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) scheduled for 20^th of October, 2022.

A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, the guest speaker at the event, entreated the College to not only equip students with academic skills, but also "a mix of academic, technical skills, industrial skills and the soft skills they need to thrive and show resilience in a post-Covid-19 economy.”

He tasked the College to provide students with job-relevant technical skills as part of their degree qualifications in order to support them succeed on the job market.

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Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, guest speaker at the event.

The former Vice-Chancellor appealed to the College to set up a research unit to promote multidisciplinary or trans-disciplinary research studies in endogenous knowledge systems with members from other disciplinary areas or colleges.

He indicated that the College had produced a sea of Deans and Provosts who should make their voices heard on national issues, especially on education.

Prof Anamuah-Mensah suggested to the College to "take the initiative to collaborate with other Deans of faculties and Provosts of colleges of education in other universities in the country to establish a non-partisan association to be called Association of Deans and Provosts of Public Universities."

He also suggested to the College to select a day in October to celebrate what he described as ‘National Education Day’ to mark the day the Faculty of Education, now College of Education Studies, was established.

Prof. Anamuah-Mensah used the occasion to walk the audience through the past and present of the College.

The Provost of the College, Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis, in his address, expressed gratitude to past Provosts, Deans, as well as staff for their hard work. 

He observed that all the cream of educationists, who had influenced education policy and continue to influence policy currently, had relationship with the College either as past students or staff members, mentioning Prof. Dominic Fobih, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Prof. Anamuah-Mensah and Prof. Ameyaw Ekumfi, among others.

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Provost of the CES, Prof. Ernest Davis

Prof. Davis added that the College had supported government's agenda on education through the Institute of Education which was graduating the first batch of students on the new B.ED curriculum ran at the colleges of education in Ghana.

He explained that the College had developed short demand-driven courses to equip lecturers, who do not have professional education background, with the requisite knowledge and skills to deliver high quality lessons.

He praised the research output of the College which had resulted in the promotion of over forty (40) faculty members to the rank of professor.

Regarding collaboration, he said the College had academic ties with US universities that enable students of the College to travel to the US to observe at firsthand teaching and learning at the institutions.

On future plans, Prof. Davis stated that the College "was reviewing its curriculum to ensure its graduates were globally competitive and entrepreneurial in their orientation."

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Prof. Christine Adu-Yeboah, Director of the School of Educational Development and Outreach (SEDO) presenting a citation of honour to Prof. Ghartey Ampiah

The event also witnessed some personalities who had served the College in different capacities receive citations of honour.

In all, fifteen (15) well distinguished and accomplished scholars (former Deans and Provosts) were honoured. Among them were; the guest of honour of the College of Education Day celebration, Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah; the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah; a former Pro Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. George K. T. Oduro and Prof. Eric Magnus Wilmot, the Vice-Chancellor of C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences.

There was also a special citation of honour presented to the Omanhen of Oguaa, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II for his unflinching support for the College over the years.

As part of activities, the College organized a students' exhibition project where its students showcased various products they had produced.

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Some stands at the exhibition with patrons

The exhibition, according to the Provost of the College, Prof. Ernest K. Davis, was to ensure that students were well equipped to contribute towards job creation to reduce unemployment in the country, adding that "we are training our students to be job creators and not job seekers."

Patrons of the exhibition expressed delight and affection about the exhibition and the variety of items that were on display.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC