The Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has reiterated government’s commitment to pursuing important reforms to ensure quality education for improved learning outcomes.
According to the minister, the government’s reforms in teacher education formed part of a wider scope of reforms at all levels to ensure that the country’s education delivery system met the needs of a modern 21st century economy.
“This is crucial if we are to move definitely on a path of progress and development. Of course, as with every reform, there are and will be various challenges, but I am confident that as councils of your institutions, you will be able to bring your rich experience to bear in the provision of the much-needed strategic leadership and direction to ensure the success of the programme,” he added.
Dr Prempeh disclosed this at the inauguration of the governing councils for eight colleges of education in Accra on Tuesday.
The colleges included Holy Child College of Education, Kibi College of Education, Saint Theresa’s College of Education, Mount Mary College of Education, Tamale College of Education, St John Bosco College of Education, Gambaga College of Education and the Gbewaa College of Education.
Dr Prempeh said the governing council was an important actor in the decision-making process and formally the most central strategic body at the institutional level.
He said the governing council could be viewed as an important arena for institutional change and was also responsible for quality assurance, efficiency and effectiveness.
“It is on this note that you have been chosen by His Excellency to strengthen the institution as a whole even as it carries out its mandate to drive the change agenda,” he emphasised.
The minister emphasised that the mandate of the council was to ensure that the College of Education trained students to acquire the necessary professional and academic competencies for teaching in pre-tertiary institutions and non-formal education institutions and to build the professional and academic capacities of serving teachers through regular continuing education.
Outlining the functions of the colleges as stated in the Colleges of Education Act, Act 847 he said the council was to approve the educational programmes developed by the academic board having regard to the mandate of the colleges.
Furthermore, they were to oversee the internal organisation of the College of Education including the establishment, variation and supervision of academic divisions, departments and faculties of the college as well as prescribe the terms and conditions for the admission of persons selected for a course of study organised by the college and institute awards, fellowships and scholarship schemes in furtherance of the aims of the colleges and finally manage the finances and fixed assets of the college and consider and approve annual estimates of income and expenditure of the college among others.
By Cliff Ekuful
