To meet the demands of qualified teachers for basic school, it was important the nation focuses on pre-service teacher education, Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has said.
Professor D. D. Kuupole said teacher education had the potential to put quality into the educational system and also offer learners experiences that would shape knowledge and skills for future development.
He said this at the 6th annual congregation of the Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) college of Education at Cape Coast under the theme: “Meeting the changing Trends in Teacher education through Holistic Training”.
In all, 265 students graduated. A total of 54 students obtained second class honours, Upper Division, 153 with second class lower division, 51 with third class and five had a pass.
The Vice Chancellor said quality primary education, largely depended on the quality of the teacher who teaches at the crucial level of a child’s educational and intellectual development.
Prof Kuupole said teacher education was currently undergoing massive transition and reforms which require that school teachers in Ghana also change their thinking and mode of delivery.
He said the public wanted to see new breeds of teachers who were disciplined, self-motivated and committed with a sense of professionalism.
Hence, he added, it was important to train teachers in a more holistic perspective developing their character, leadership potential and psychological growth to meet the current trends in teacher preparation.
The Vice Chancellor asked the graduates to be proactive in their professional work to promote child-centred teaching and activity based learning in their classroom interaction.
He added that they should take advantage of the opportunities of life-long learning being provided by the Ministry of Education, universities and college of education to improve the quality of their teaching in the classroom.
The Principal of the College, Reverend Sister Elizabeth Amoako-Arhen said the College had established itself as a centre of excellence and became successful in meeting current trends in teacher education.
