GOVERNMENT SUPPORT BAGABA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT BAGABA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Government as part of its zeal to boost teacher education in Ghana has supported Bagabaga College of Education with vehicles, lecture hall facility and a modern library to improve academic excellence.
This correlates with government’s policy direction to train more qualified teachers to commensurate with the high enrolment in schools due to the introduction of the School Feeding Programme and the increment in Capitation Grant.
Alhaji Adam Zakaria, Principal of the Bagabaga College of Education disclosed this at the 1st congregation of the college where about 243 graduants were awarded Diploma Certificates in Basic Education by the University of Cape Coast.
He said the Bagabaga College of Education was established in 1944 with only 16 students and can today boast of a student population of 843.
Alhaji Adam underscored the need for government to revise the quota for admission into the country’s teacher training colleges by changing the current 9,000 to 15,000 to enable the institutions train enough teachers for postings to underserved communities.
The Principal appealed to government to tar the roads of the campus particularly the road leading to the ladies hostel and also assist the authority to build security fence to avoid encroachers.
A representative of the Minister for Education, Mr. E.O Asare, Deputy Director in charge of teacher education at the Ministry of Education announced a 300,000 Ghana cedi package for all the teacher training colleges to complete ongoing projects.
He added that the ministry will make available 20 computers to each of the training institutions to enhance the study of Information Communication Technology.
The Minister for Education however cautioned teachers against using students as labourers particularly on their farmlands and urged the graduants to move away from that practice.
Professor James Adu Opare, Director of the Bagabaga College of Education academic board complained that some professional teachers of northern extraction are not committed to their job.
He said majority of such teachers are habitual absentees in their various schools which is hampering academic progression in the Tamale metropolis and beyond.
The 66 year old Bagabaga College of Education which was established in 1944 has trained high profile personalities including current sitting Vice President’s father, E.A Mahama, Dr. Hilla Liman, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, Abayifa Karbo, S.D. Dombo, Ishague Wemah and Issifu Ali.