Komenda (C/R)-Ghana, June 18, GNA – The Komenda College of Education (KOMENCO) has graduated its first cohort of 137-degree students of Bachelor of Education in Basic Education (BEd) at its 13th congregation.
The ceremony saw 14 graduates securing First Class honours with Mr Daniel Awuni Ayamba, adjudged the best-graduating student with a CGPA of 3.73.
Graced by parents and educationists, some 199 graduates got Second Class Upper Division, 130 had Second Class Lower, whilst 31 got Third Class.
Some outstanding students, teaching and non-teaching staff, and selected teachers in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem were recognised with certificates and undisclosed amounts of money for their meritorious services.
It was held on the theme: “Training Quality teachers for National Development: Komenda College of Education in 75 years.”
In a welcoming address, Reverend Dr Kwesi Nkum Wilson, the Principal of the College, commended the graduates for working tirelessly to complete their course amidst the most difficult academic times over the period.
Having gone the full throttle of the current teacher education module introduced in 2018, Dr Wilson proposed that Colleges of Education must offer Ghanaian Languages within their catchment areas as local languages were becoming scarce.
“I wish to suggest that Colleges of Education in Ghana must as a matter of necessity offer Ghanaian Language within their catchment area. Gradually teachers of the Ghana Language are becoming scarce, we need conscious effort in ensuring the teaching and learning of the Ghanaian Language.
“I believe that Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) programmes are drivers of our national development, and it should rather begin from Kindergarten to Junior High school, which called for proper training of teachers for direction with support mechanisms,” he said.
Dr Wilson highlighted major infrastructure development including an on-going six-kilometer road that is 55 per cent complete, a Lady’s Hall, entrance gate, furnished offices for Heads of Departments and Colleges Counselor, and one thousand pieces of furniture.
The College also embarked on serious farming, which resulted in it being recognised during the 2022 National Best Farmer Awards.
The College had cultivated 50 acres of a coconut farm, 10 acres of palm fruits, 60 holdings of piggery, 10 acres of honey farm, and a tractor and accessories.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, urged the College to continue to produce high-quality teacher-transforming educators across the country.
He encouraged the graduates to provide quality teaching and learning experiences to their learners by deploying appropriate and relevant techniques, and post-lesson activities.
He said the graduates had been educated from a carefully designed framework, “yours was not as in the early 90s where the curriculum was modified, if not changed, after almost every meeting called by the affiliated institution.”
“Seek continuous improvement in yourselves and your teaching skills or practices, be conscious of self-improvement and be deliberate about it, and join professional learning communities.
“Seek advancement in the appropriate area of your specialization. Seek excellence, for according to Aristotle, “Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution.”
Prof Nyarko-Simpson also urged them to explore and adapt to new ways of doing things, and embrace change, saying “Don’t be afraid of change! You might lose something good on the road to something great.”
“Be the change agent that the Bachelor of Education programmes for the Colleges of Education have been designed to produce.
“The status quo of, and long-held approach to work in the public sector, particularly in our schools, should,” he advised.
Earlier, constituting the 13th Congregation, Right Reverend Richardson Aboagye Andam, the Council Chair, lauded the contributions of the College for producing quality teachers in 75 years.
He urged the graduates to be good ambassadors and torch-bearers of their alma mater.
He congratulated the graduates and asked them to accept postings to rural areas to help bring transformation into teaching in schools.
