Cambridge Training College refutes allegation

Kumasi, Aug 1, GNA - Cambridge Teacher Training College, a private teacher training institution in Kumasi, has expressed dismay at the Parliamentary Committee on Education's report that it was neither accredited by the National Accreditation Board nor recognised by the Ghana Education Service (GES) or the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and was, therefore, operating illegally.

A statement issued by the College on Thursday has refuted the allegation that it was operating illegally.

It said this erroneous information might have come from a source that did not have sufficient information about how Cambridge Training College came to be established.

Giving details about how it started, the statement said, the College was established in 1998 as the first private teacher training college in Ghana.

The statement said the vision to establish the College was the realisation of inadequate supply of trained teachers in both the private and public institutions thereby affecting academic standards. It said a call by government for private participation in the provision of quality education for Ghanaian children motivated Mr J. B. Arkoful to establish the College.

The statement said when all the necessary structures had been put in place the College was inspected on August 5, 1998 by a team led by Mrs Elizabeth Adabor Director of Teacher Education of the Ghana Education Service (GES).

Others were Dr C. K. Akwesi, Director of the Institute of Education, UCC and Mr Francis Ekow Archer, a Lecturer at the Kumasi Campus of the University of Education, Winneba.

It said there was a second inspection on August 21, 1998 and the team comprised Mr Nii Kortey, the Executive Secretary, National Accreditation Board as the Leader, Professor Kpodo, a Lecturer at the Kumasi Campus of the University of Education, Winneba and Mrs Quarshie Sam, Registrar of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The statement said following these inspections members of the Accreditation Board met and interviewed a team from the Cambridge Training College led by the Director/Proprietor, Mr Arkoful. The Accreditation Board members comprised Professor Kpodo, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, the then Acting Director-General of the GES, Mrs Adabor, Dr Awuku, a Consultant to the Minister of Education on Teacher Education Programme, Mrs Kpodo, Head of National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The others were; Mrs Alberta Quartey, Chairperson of the National Commission on Children, Mr Nii Kotey, Executive Secretary, National Accreditation Board and Professor Acheampong, University of Ghana, who chaired the Board.

Members of the Cambridge Training College team also comprised Mr Arkorful, Mr S. K. Obeng, former Director-General of GES; Mr S.O. Okae, Principal and Mr Kyenkyenhene, Secretary of the College.

The statement said after the sitting the college was granted interim accreditation and thus became a member of the Professional Board of the University of Cape Coast, the certifying body for teacher education in Ghana.

It said Cambridge had been regarded as an integral part of all teacher training colleges operating under teacher education and graded the 39th member of existing training colleges by the GES and the University of Cape Coast.

The statement said the College had been served with all relevant materials meant for all Teacher Training Colleges and that the Principal has been attending all meetings organised by the Director of Teacher Education.

The statement said after the accreditation the Teacher Education Division officially affiliated the college to Wesley College in Kumasi and that all entry requirements of the University of Cape Coast are fulfilled and that the students are registered for the University of Cape Coast's Institute of Education Examinations.

It said since its establishment in 1998 the college had produced four batches of successful teachers with 100 per cent passes with some distinctions, who had been absorbed and posted by GES to public schools. It, therefore, wondered how the teachers could have been absorbed by the GES and sent to public schools if the College were not accredited.

The statement said Cambridge Private Training College's programme was a bold and commendable private sector initiative which government was encouraging and must, therefore, be supported by GES and the public instead of killing the initiative.