By
Francis Ameyibor, GNA
Koforidua, July 11, GNA – Mr Robbin Todd, Team
Leader of Transforming Teacher Education and Learning (T-TEL) on Wednesday
adjudged Ghana as not having a bad education system.
What is happening is “we are failing in the
most important aspect of education- learning outcomes.
“Too many children in this country are leaving
primary school without the ability to read and write to the required standards.
Too many children are failing to gain the educational foundation which will
enable them to achieve their potential in life,” he said.
Mr Todd stated at the opening of a two-day “Challenge
Fund-End of Project Event,” for nine Colleges of Education (CoE) which over the
past 12-15 months had implemented, the Challenge Fund project to share key
lessons, showcase achievements and exploring opportunities for taking best
practices and results forward in their institutions and within the teacher
education sector as a whole.
The T-TEL Ghana Team Leader explained that
“Ghana’s educational system focuses on ‘chewing’ and ‘pouring’- learning facts
for examinations- an approach which does not adequately equip our young people
for the world of work or enable them to achieve their full potential.
“We also have an education system which is too
focused on examinations and which does not do enough to develop critical
thinking and problem-solving skills”.
“We should aspire for more. We should aspire
to do better. Change is possible. This is the message behind the Government’s
current education reforms. We are aspiring towards a genuinely world-class
education system.
“A system which equips young people to become
life-long learners in a knowledge economy. A system which enables Ghana to move
beyond aid to trade so that we stand proudly on the world stage as the
self-reliant, confident country which I know we are,” Mr Todd stated .
He said the T-TEL project aspires for a
country where the public education system was so good that no Ghanaian felt the
need to send his son or daughter to a private school.
“This is the vision. What are we doing to make
it a reality? Education starts with the teacher, so reforming teacher education
is an absolute priority- building upon the strengths which already exist across
Ghana’s 46 public Colleges of Education,” he said.
Mr Todd said the government wanted to raise
the profile of the teaching profession, stressing that the world’s best
performing education systems were united by a common thread- the respect and
standing of the teacher in society- a respect which meant that young people
aspired to join the teaching profession.
In the time past, the teacher had almost the
same level of status and respect as the chief, in Ghana. “How do we build this
back?
“We are starting by raising the entry
requirements for basic school teachers so that they are equivalent to those of
other professions.
“To be a Lawyer, Architect, Engineer,
Pharmacist or Doctor you must first gain a Bachelors’ Degree and then secure
your license to practice,” he said.
Mr Todd explained that from October this year
all new entrants to the teaching profession will be required to study Bachelors
of Education degrees offered by Colleges of Education, initially in affiliation
with the University of Cape Coast and after one year of implementation with
other public Universities.
He said the curriculum offered in these
Colleges of Education will represent a significant departure from previous
practice.
He said aligning the new curriculum with these
standards will ensure that we train the teachers which Ghana needed to deliver
a world class education system.
“As the Team Leader of T-TEL, a Government of
Ghana programme, we have been working with the National Council for Tertiary
Education (NCTE) to support all 46 Colleges of Education to transform teacher
education and learning.
“We have been working with Colleges for the
past three years to prepare them for the Teacher Education Reforms. And I would
also like to recognise and pay tribute to the important role that the
University of Cape Coast have been playing in building capacity and capability
in Colleges of Education.
“I firmly believe that, with this support, all
Colleges are ready to deliver the new Bachelors of Education degree. I am
excited about the opportunities for colleges and universities, working in
partnership of mutual cooperation, respect and understanding, to truly transform
teacher education and learning,” he said.
He said “If Ghana achieves these reforms it
will stand as a beacon of hope to all of Africa that genuine change in teacher
education is possible.
“And this change has already begun as through
the Challenge Fund projects the Colleges have brought about significant and
positive changes in the lives of young people across the country.
“We will work with Universities to provide
continuous professional development support to enable all lecturers and tutors
to understand all aspects of the new curriculum and deliver it effectively”.
Mr Todd stressed, “We will seek to strengthen
partnerships between partner schools and colleges, guided by a new school
partnerships policy- to ensure that experienced teachers are effectively
mentoring student teacher.
“We will provide support to all colleges to
enable them to upgrade the qualifications of their tutors, within a four year
transitional period, to meet the minimum requirements of the National Council
for Tertiary Education (NCTE).
“We will continue to support colleges to
achieve their organisational objectives and development plans through a Payment
By Results (PBR) approach, providing funding for colleges to use as they see
fit to improve their infrastructure and learning environment.
“And we will continue to emphasise the
importance of gender and inclusion- ensuring that opportunities for advancement
are available for all in an inclusive and supportive learning environment,” Mr
Todd said.
The participating colleges are Peki College of
Education, Presbyterian College of Education – Akropong Akuapem, Jasikan
College of Education, Presbyterian Women’s College of Education – Aburi
Akwapim, SDA College of Education, St. Theresa’s College of Education, Agogo
College of Education, Dambai College of Education, and Akatsi College of
Education.
GNA