Colleges of education to focus on ICT education
A proposal to upgrade teacher training institutions into degree-awarding schools has received favourable response from Parliament.
MPs on both sides of the House are in support of the proposals but are demanding a careful crafting of the regulations that would govern it.
The colleges of education Bill, 2011 seeks to upgrade the country’s 38 Teacher Training Colleges to attain a tertiary status.
Even though both sides of the house agree on this bill, some of them feel it needs to be tidied up.
MP for Atwima Kwanwoma, Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi, noted that “Whilst fulfilling these needs we should also be mindful of the fact that we are not only reducing the levels but we are also increasing the expectations of the potential trainees; expectations with regards to conditions of service and salaries levels.
Some MPs have also warned that any rush would defeat the purpose of the upgrade.
A strong point in the proposal now is to refocus the training collages on ICT education in the light of modern skills demand.
Minister of Communication, Haruna Iddrisu, said there was the need for the teacher trainees to take advantage of ICT.
“Today, when you are training our children at the basic level, they will be competing with the rest of the world. And it is important that they have exposure to information and communication technology in order for them to improve their own world.”
Minister of Education, Mahama Ayariga for his part said the passage of the bill will lead to an improved teacher training institution which will affect the governance structures of the various colleges of education in the country. In effect, he noted that it will also affect the quality of teachers and lecturers of the various institutions.
By: Aisha Ibrahim, e.tv Ghana
