UEW Designs Programme to Train Private School Teachers

A team of six Faculty Members of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), have successfully developed an education programme to scale up the training of untrained Private School Teachers under the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GHACOPS) to professionally trained teachers.   

The three-semester teacher education programme, to be run by UEW, will upgrade the levels of untrained teachers in private schools in Ghana to match up with the teaching requirements of the Teacher Professionalism Policy by the Ministry of Education through the National Teaching Council (NTC). 

National Executives of GNACOPS, UEW Management and some faculty members in a group pose with Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni (fourth from right) after the meeting

Trainees would undertake the programme for three sessions of six weeks each where the credit load for each semester would be 27. Learners would be assessed after each session and grades cumulated over the three-session period leading to the award of  Diploma in Basic Education to successful trainees. 

Applicants with the minimum entry requirement will be automatically admitted to the programme following application while applicants of 25 years and over will qualify to sit for the Mature Students Entrance Examination and gain admission if they pass. However, applicants who do not fall into the two aforementioned categories would be offered the opportunity for an Access Course for three weeks following which they would be assessed and qualified students admitted.  

Graduates of the Diploma in Basic Education can pursue a Bachelor of Education in Basic Education with a one-year top-up to obtain the degree. Those who already have earned a degree but without professional qualifications can do a postgraduate diploma in Education under the programme to become professionals.

The National Executives of GNACOPS met with the Management of UEW together with the team that developed the programme at the Council Chamber of UEW on Wednesday, 30th June, 2021 to finalise details on the proposal. 

The Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni, expressed his elation at receiving such a high-powered delegation from across the country on the programme.

“Of course those who are interested in educational issues do know that the University of Education, Winneba for these 30 years that we have been in existence have been very focused on our mandate as the Teacher Education University. For the past 10 years running, we have continued to be the fastest-growing largest populated University in Ghana. 

“What is also unique about us is the fact that we are truly focused on educational issues to the extent that every academic staff of this University comes in already trained as a professional educator or must have upon being appointed or before they are confirmed accessed our postgraduate diploma in teaching at a higher level. So, any regular academic staff of this University is a trained teacher. 

“We want to congratulate you, the Ghana National Council of Private Schools for choosing UEW. I wish to assure you that you will never regret the choice that you have made,” Rev. Fr. Prof. Afful-Broni said.  

National Executive Director of GNACOPS, Mr. Enoch Kwasi Gyetuah

The National Executive Director, GNACOPS, Mr. Enoch Kwasi Gyetuah, congratulated the team members for putting together a very solid programme to see to the welfare of private education. 

Members of the University that developed the programme are the Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Prof. George Kankam; Dean, Faculty of Educational Studies, Prof. Samuel K. Hayford; Dean, Faculty of Science Education, Prof. Ruby Hanson; Head of Department (HoD), Basic Education, Prof. Sakina Acquah; HoD, Early Childhood Education, Dr. Yayra Dzakadzie; and HoD, Educational Foundation, Dr. Richard Addai-Mununkum. 

Among the staff of the University present were the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Andy Ofori-Birikorang; Principal, College of Languages Education, Prof. Dominic K. D. Mensah; Ag. Internal Auditor, Mr. Isaac Marfo Oduro; Head, University Relations Office and Media, Dr. Obaapanin Oforiwaa Adu; Senior Assistant Registrar, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Emmanuel Agyin-Birikorang; Head, Publishing and Web Development, Mr. Jojoe Annan and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ernest Edu Azutigah.