Education sector needs more funds, appropriate resources
The Director of the Institute of Education of the University of Cape Coast, Professor Frederick Ocansey, has called for the injection of enough funds into the educational sector for the provision of adequate infrastructure as a way of motivating teachers to give their best.
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He said the provision of adequate and appropriate resources and “their delivery at the right time to teachers and educational institutions, no doubt, is a factor to motivate teachers to perform excellently to provide quality education”.
According to him, for teachers to be motivated to do their best, “it requires that enough funds are injected into the provision of the needed infrastructure such as standard lecture rooms, staff offices, conference rooms and residential accommodation for both staff and students”.
“A motivated teacher is the one who not only feels satisfied with his or her job, but one who is also empowered to strive for excellence and growth in instructional practice,” he said.
8th Graduation
Prof. Ocansey made the call when he delivered the keynote address at the eighth graduation ceremony of the Wesley College of Education in Kumasi on Saturday. He spoke on the theme: “Resourcing and Motivating the 21st Century Teacher for Quality Teacher Education in Ghana.”
Established in 1918 by the Methodist Church to train more teachers, ministers and catechists, it became a fully fledged institution, named Wesley College, in 1922.
The courses offered at the college have gone through upgrading from a 2-year Cert ‘B’, to a 4-year Cert ‘A’, 3-year Post-Secondary Cert ‘A’ and now Diploma in Basic Education (DBE) by the passage of a Parliamentary Bill, Education Act 778, on January 6, 2008.
Prof. Ocansey said there was the need for well-trained, well-resourced and motivated teachers to equip students with the requisite knowledge and skills to transform the fortunes of the nation into an economic giant.
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The director noted that quality teacher education entailed a lot, and as such required concerted efforts on the part of all stakeholders in the education enterprise, saying: “Quality students depend on the quality of training they receive and this is also a reflection of the quality of teachers giving the training.”
GETFund
Prof. Ocansey stated that although the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) had been helpful in the provision of some of the infrastructural needs of the schools, “there is the need to go the extra length in order to adequately support teaching and learning”.
Principal
The acting Principal of the college, Mrs Charlotte Rockson, said the institution had a student population of 1,134 (695 males and 439 females) offering courses in Science/Mathematics, French and Physical Education.
“Currently,” she said, “the college runs three programmes, namely three-year Diploma in Basic Education, two-year Post-Diploma in Basic Education via distance education and a two-year Post-Diploma in Basic Education through sandwich”.
Mrs Rockson said a total of 274 students successfully completed a three-year course in Diploma in Basic Education this year.
Out of the number, she said 11 including a female obtained first class, and added that it was the first time a female student had obtained a first class since the inception of the Diploma in Basic Education course in 2008.
History
The Tafohene at the time, Nana Yaw Dabanka, and his elders, gave the parcel of land (on which the college stands at the moment) to the Methodist Church for the establishment of the new college.
When the main block was completed, the college, which was then operating at Aburi, was transferred to Kumasi. On Monday, March 3, 1924, Wesley College was officially opened in Kumasi.
Thus, Wesley College, Kumasi, became the first higher institution to be established in the Northern Sector of the Gold Coast. The total number of students who came into residence on March 5, 1924 was 74, consisting of 76 candidates for ministerial training, 48 student teachers and 19 student catechists. Out of the 74 students, 26 had been in training at Aburi during the previous years.
Members of staff were Rev. C. W Armstrong, Principal; Mr L. B. Greaves, Vice Principal and Rev. Francis Chapman F. Grant who in 1961 became the first President of the Methodist Church, Ghana.
Principals of the college from 1922 to 1951 were all British reverend ministers. The first African principal was Mr Samuel Hanson Amissah, who was a past student and past tutor. In 1961 Mr Amissah became the first Vice President of the conference of the Methodist Church Ghana.
In 1930, the first batch of female students was admitted to be trained as teachers. These women were housed at Mmofraturo. Enrolment at the time stood at 135. The present dormitory blocks were completed in 1949 and in early 1950 the women joined the men in the college compound from Mmofraturo.
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