Savannah News Online Reporting Only What Matters Most
Related Articles
Tumu, Ghana – Enrollment into the Tumu College of Education in the Upper West Region of Ghana is on a downward trend over the years.
This worrying situation, according to the College Principal warrants immediate examination and a rapid response.
Mr. Adams Kaleo Bertinus raised the concern at the College’s 10th Matriculation Ceremony where only 217 fresher’s were enrolled to read the various programmes.
“The enrolment figures over the years have been dwindling. In 2016/2017 we had 399 admitted, 2017/2018; 310, 2018/2019; 265 and this year 2019/2020; 217. This trend Mr. Chairman, merits close examination and an urgent intervention.”
The extremely worried College Principal nonetheless reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continue producing professional teachers whose services are indispensable as reforms have been made in the education sector.
Below is Mr. Kaleo’s full speech:
TUMU COLLEGE OF EDUCATION-10TH MATRICULATION CEREMONY SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE PRINCIPAL: ADAMS KALEO BERTINUS
With the highest sense of humility, I wish to, on behalf of the Governing Council, Management, Staff and Students of the College, respectfully welcome you all to this year’s Matriculation ceremony.
Permit me to specially acknowledge the presence of the Chairman and members of the Governing Council, the Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, the Honourable Municipal Chief Executive for Sissala East and the Representative of the Municipal Director of Education for Sissala East to this ceremony.
PURPOSE OF CEREMONY
Council Chairman, as a special statutory ritual in the tertiary landscape, Matriculation seeks to formally register and admit fresh students deemed to have satisfied the academic requirements necessary for entry into that institution. Statute 31 clause 1 of the Harmonized Statutes for CoEs 2 stipulates that: “A person enrolling in the College for the first time shall be matriculated”. Clause 2 of the same statute further states that “A person shall not matriculate unless he/she has fulfilled the conditions prescribed by the Academic Board and has been accepted for admission”. I must say that this year’s ceremony is unique in the sense that, it is meant to admit into the College the 2nd batch of students to pursue the 4 Year Bachelor of Education programme under the mentorship of the University for Development Studies.
Mr. Chairman Matriculation involves the swearing of an Oath and the signing of a Matriculation Register by Matriculants to mark their formal admission into the College. Through this ceremony fresh students are formally admitted into the Rights, Privileges and Responsibilities of the College, thus, making them full members of the College community as students in Status pupillari. Accepting to take the oath and sign the matriculation register is an indication of your pledge never to bring the name of the College into disrepute and that you will always defend the College at all times and on all occasions.
My dear Matriculants, the College prides itself over quality education and that you must take full advantage of and benefit from. This can be achieved through discipline, hard work, diligence and a high level of integrity. Be reminded that no one can achieve success in any human endeavour without discipline. Indeed discipline, hard work and integrity with God’s guidance are necessary ingredients for successful life.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES AND AFFILIATION
The College runs 2 main programmes: the 3 Year Diploma in Basic Education (DBE) and the 4 Year Bachelor of Education (B. Ed) Programmes. The final batch of the DBE Programme made up of 302 students is on the Out Programme undergoing their internship in our partner schools in the two Sissala Education Directorates.
The B.Ed. Programme has 3 Specialisms namely Early Grade/Early Childhood, Primary and Junior High School Specialisms. The College currently runs two Specialisms notably Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Primary Education (PE) under the mentorship of University of Cape Coast and University for Development Studies.
The College also runs a 2-Cohort Sandwich Diploma Programme christened UTD ECE for over 900 students.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND 2019/2020 ADMISSIONS
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the admission requirements for the B. Ed programme in all three specialisms (Early Childhood, Primary and Junior High School Education) are as follows: 3 core subjects with English language and Mathematics being compulsory and applicants needed to score a minimum of C6 in all three core subjects. An applicant in addition to the three core subjects also needed to have a minimum of C6 in three Electives to meet the 2019/2020 admission requirements. The centralized admission system was adopted in which an applicant purchased one form and made 3 choices. The details of the applicants that honoured the offer of admission to pursue the B.Ed programme are as follows:
B.ED PRIMARY EDUCATION
50 Female and 100 Male = 150
B.ED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
70 Female and 30 Male = 100
Council Chairman, being gender sensitive, the College for the past three years has always made a conscious effort to make education more accessible to female applicants in a bid to bridging the gender gap. This year is no different since the College admitted all qualified female applicants. Unfortunately we still could not meet the male to female ratio of 1:1. I wish to appeal to our cherished female students to live lives worthy of emulation so that you can be seen as role models to the young ones to attract them to the institution. Mr. Chairman, the enrolment figures over the years have been dwindling. In 2016/2017 we had 399 admitted, 2017/2018; 310, 2018/2019; 265 and this year 2019/2020; 217. This trend Mr. Chairman, merits close examination and an urgent intervention.
RATIONALE FOR THE 4 YEAR BACHELOR OF EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Council Chairman, the rationale of the 4-year B. Ed Programme is to train highly qualified and motivated teachers who are inspired to teach. It is divided into two phases, a 1st phase of course work for four years on College campus and a 2nd phase of school placement in the 5th year for the acquisition of teacher’s license. It is a value driven curriculum placing emphasis on the nation’s core values of Honesty, Creativity and Responsible Citizenship with the aim of achieving SDG 4: “ensuring equitable quality inclusive education and lifelong learning opportunities for all”.
The curriculum also demands that the teacher’s subject content knowledge, pedagogy, assessment approaches and practical teaching skills are developed concurrently. Finally, the B.Ed curriculum seeks to prepare students to meet the requirements of the National Teacher Education Curriculum Framework (NTECF), be assessed against the National Teachers Standards (NTS) to enable them effectively teach the basic school curriculum.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE B.ED PROGRAMME IN TUMU COLLEGE
Mr. Chairman, with the inception of the 4-Year B.Ed programme, the College had no choice other than improving upon her human and material resources. In this regard a number of tutors enrolled in various Universities to upgrade themselves for the acquisition of M. Phil and PhD degrees.
Additionally a number of the administrative staff have enrolled in a number of programmes in various Universities to upgrade themselves in conformity with our statutes as a College of Education. It is my conviction that by the end of the transition period in 2022 all academic and administrative staff would have obtained the minimum qualification required to work in the College. Distinguished Guests, since staff promotion is tied to Research and Publications, College Management in the last academic year organized a number of College-based workshops and sponsored staff to attend some others organized by some stakeholders like NCTE and T-TEL. It is my hope that in the soonest future most of our staff through their publications would have been promoted to Senior and other positions. I must say that the engagement of tutors in the weekly Professional Development Sessions offer them the rare opportunity of sharing best practices with colleagues which helps them to improve upon their professional values and attitudes, professional knowledge and professional practice, the key domains of the National Teachers’ Standards.
CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE 4 YEAR B. ED PROGRAMME
Council Chairman, let me however indicate that the accommodation of four cohorts of the B.Ed programme come the next two years will largely be dependent on the improvement of some infrastructural facilities such as staff and student residential accommodation, academic facilities like lecture theatres, a modern ICT centre, a well-equipped library, internet facilities. A full complement of academic and administrative/supportive staff is required for the effective implementation of the programme.
ADMONITION OF MATRICULANTS
My dear fresh students, College education is geared towards giving holistic training individuals well-endowed with analytical minds affording them the opportunity to examine issues critically and develop logical reasoning. Such individuals are able to sift good from evil; rational behaviour from irrational behavior as well as good citizenship from bad citizenship. My dear fresh students, remember that rights and responsibilities are bed fellows and where the rights of one ends marks the beginning of another’s rights.
Our existence and survival as a College is tied to our non-compromise on discipline. In the light of this, a Students Handbook that spells out the codified rules and regulations of the College has been developed to guide, regulate and shape your behaviour towards your superiors and colleagues. To find your academic work and life in general extremely exciting, enjoyable, comfortable and fulfilling you must abide by these rules and regulations. Any deliberate violation of these codified rules and regulations by any student will not be tolerated. Such students will be extremely uncomfortable and indeed sad because the appropriate sanctions will be applied to the letter. I therefore, impress upon you to get well acquainted with it and internalize the rules and regulations to make your stay here comfortable.
Council Chairman, in recent times, students, especially those in our second cycle and tertiary institutions engage in crimes like internet fraud, drug abuse, armed robbery and broad day light prostitution. Vices such as nepotism, religious fanatism, tribalism and occultism are not equally spared in our educational institutions. Also of great concern is the high level of arrogance and gross disrespect for authority and elders. All these should be avoided. Since the College is an integral part of mother Ghana, it operates under the laws of the Republic which demands that we must all be law abiding citizens respecting the national laws at all times.
My dear students, our differences underscores the fact we come from different geographical locations, cultures, families, and socio-religious backgrounds translating into our cultural diversity. This notwithstanding, we should as a community emulate the immense tolerance level exhibited by the citizens of Ghana. Let us at all times exhibit a high level of tolerance even under extreme cases of provocation. Inculcate the virtue of tolerance in and outside the College tolerating the views of others, even if you disagree with them. Be mindful that in an academic environment varied opinions and ideas enrich the quest for knowledge and must be tolerated. There is unity in diversity. Treat your colleagues and superiors in the College with civility and respect.
Dear students, our facilities though modest are at your disposal for your maximum utilization towards the achievement of your goals and objectives. Utilize the library as best as you can. Currently our internet services have been put on hold because our inability to charge students for the monthly maintenance fee of about 6,000 ghc. We are engaging the student leadership to see how this can be addressed to bring back to life the internet service on campus for both staff and students to access to enhance research, teaching and learning and other related activities. Do also make a conscious effort to take good care of the property at your disposal. Keep the environment clean always, appear decent on all occasions in and outside the college and avoid open defecation.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, this ceremony, marks a new chapter in the lives of our matriculants. Indeed it is a chapter of progress and the pages are full of achievements, academic improvements, intellectual growth, maturity, positive developments and better life. Endure the sacrifices of leaving the comfort of your homes to pursue tertiary education. Find good role-models and aspire to be one. I implore you to rise up to your motto “Be steady and learn”, poised to acquire knowledge, develop your potentials and be fully prepared to contribute positively to the development and improvement of education particularly in your communities and Ghana in general. Take your studies seriously and learn hard in order to avoid referrals and dismissals.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, My dear students, before I take my seat permit me to share with you this piece of advice by Mike Gafka a great scholar, I quote “To be successful you must accept all challenges that come your way. You can’t just accept the ones you like”.
Long Live Tumu College of Education,
Long Live Ghana.
God Bless Us All.
Thank you for your attention.
PRINCIPAL (ADAMS KALEO BERTINUS)
Source: Abdul Karim Naatogmah
