The University of Cape Coast has introduced nine Bachelor of Education programmes at the undergraduate level through the sandwich mode to promote academic excellence.
The programmes include Bachelor of Education (Social Sciences), Bachelor of Education (Arts), Bachelor of Education (Mathematics), Bachelor of Education (Science) and Bachelor of Education (Social Studies).
The rest are Bachelor of Education (Home Economics), Bachelor of Education (Management), Bachelor of Education (Accounting) and Bachelor of Education (Information Technology). Holders of any of these degrees will be eligible to teach in the second cycle schools in the country.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, made this known at the 7th Session of the 50th Congregation held for graduands of the Institute of Education.
In all, a total of 1,607 students, made up of 697 males and 910 females, who completed the Bachelor of Education (Basic Education) and Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) programmes through the sandwich mode.
Prof. Ampiah announced that the Institute of Education would soon complete work on the introduction of MPhil (Teacher Education) and MED/ MPhil / Pedagogy programmes in various disciplines. According to him, holders of the MEd-Teacher Education would have the opportunity to a top-up programme leading to the award of MPhil degrees.
The Vice-Chancellor indicated that the University was upgrading its Diploma in Education to a Degree programme, using the National teacher Education Curriculum Framework and National Teachers’ Standards for Ghana- Guidelines to meet the current reforms by the Ministry of Education at the Colleges of Education. Prof. Ampiah stressed that the Institute of Education would continue to run capacity building workshops for staff of the Colleges of Education to sharpen their skills and expertise.
The University and the Institute, he added, would work out a strategy which would enable Assistant Tutors in the Colleges of Education to enroll on relevant programmes in the University. That, the Vice-Chancellor pointed out, would enable them to climb their career ladder with dispatch.
Prof. Ampiah explained that currently, the Institute was undertaking research on the state of teacher education and the state of basic education in Ghana. The findings from the research would serve as a source of reference on educational issues in Ghana and guide policymakers and implementers, he disclosed. Prof. Ampiah congratulated the graduands on the completion of their prescribed programmes of study in the University and urged them to forge ahead in life and never give up.
He reminded them to “bear in mind that disappointments are inevitable but discouragement is a choice. Your future is what you make of it.”
Awards were given to 11 deserving students for their outstanding academic performances. The awardees were presented with undisclosed cash prizes, laptops and plaques.
Source: ucc.edu.gh
