New education reform needs special attention

Mampong (Ash), Dec 10, GNA- Professor Emmanuel Addow Obeng, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), has stated that it was important to pay special attention to the new education reform being implemented in the country.

He said the development of every nation depended on the type of educational system it operated, and called on Ghanaians to be abreast with the content of the reform and give it the needed support. Prof Obeng was speaking at a send-off party organised in honour of Mrs Agnes Ofosu Koranteng, retired Principal of Saint Monica's Training College at Asante-Mampong on Sunday after 19 years of service. He said even though infrastructure development is crucial in the new reform, the quality of teachers was essential to ensure the success of the reform.

Prof Obeng advised Principals of Teacher Training Colleges to ensure that their colleges became places of excellence, and challenged them to be dedicated and work hard to justify the status of their institutions.

Mr Victor Kofi Mantey, Director of Teacher Education of the Ghana Education Service (GES), said 25 female students in teacher training colleges apply to defer their courses every year due to pregnancies. She described the situation as very alarming and called on female students to use family planning methods to prevent pregnancies until they complete their courses.

Mr Ernest Osei, President of the Conference of Principals of Training Colleges, praised Mrs Koranteng for her exemplary leadership during her tenure of office as President of the Conference between 2000 and 2007.

He said under the leadership of the outgoing Principal, Teacher Training Colleges chalked many achievements, including the raising of the Colleges to the tertiary status, the provision of a 58-seater bus and raising the status from certificate to diploma level among others. Mrs Koranteng thanked the Anglican Diocese of Kumasi, the GES, the Sekyere West District Assembly and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for their co-operation, which made her tenure of office a memorable one. Right-Reverend Daniel Yinkah Sarfo, Anglican Bishop of Kumasi together with Prof Obeng later unveiled a bust of Mrs Koranteng at the administrative block of the college in her honour.