A former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, has noted that Ghana�s education system at the basic level is in crisis.
He has further stated that the education sector and, for that matter, the nation as a whole is churning out functional illiterates in spite of improved qualifications of teachers and their salaries.
Speaking at the seventh Congregation of the Wiawso College of Education (WATICO) in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Assembly in the Western Region, Prof. Adei said it was �a suicidal path mortgaging the future of schoolchildren at the basic level and a threat to national development.�
Improved condition
He stressed the need to critically look at management, supervision and teacher performance in the classroom, taking cues from private and poor schools.
Professor Adei said at the centre of quality of education was the teacher and that the teacher�s focus must not end at the Single Spine Salary but improvement of teaching aids and provision of accommodation for teachers, especially those in the rural communities.
Prof. Adei further said teachers� education must be improved in terms of both domain expertise and pedagogy, explaining that the standard for entry into colleges of education must be raised to meet the same standards as required by the universities, emphasising �rigorous entry requirements�.
He challenged WATICO to be pacesetters in producing quality teachers who have technical expertise and know-how to teach well and commended the college�s authorities for producing the National Best Teacher Trainee, Mr Nicholas Okota-Wilson.
Admissions
The Principal of WATICO, Mrs Georgina Lartey, announced that of the 226 students graduating with a Diploma in Basic Education two obtained First Class, 32 Second Class Upper, 107 Second Class Lower, 82 Third Class and three Passes.
She further indicated that the college admitted 476 first year students in the 2013 admissions as against 243 in 2012 due to the government�s scrapping of the allowance.
The Central Regional Minister, Mr E.K.T Addo an alumnus of WATICO, asked the graduates to accept postings to the rural areas to support development.
The Omanhene of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area, Nana Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi II, also an alumnus, blessed the graduates and charged them to continue to achieve the best in their endeavours.
The Anglican Bishop of Wiawso Diocese, Rt Rev. Abraham Kobina Ackah, another alumnus, prayed for God�s continuous protection for the college and blessed the graduates.
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