By Yussif Ibrahim
Kumasi, Oct. 30, GNA – The contribution of Jackson University College (JUC) to teacher education in Ghana has received applause from the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.
The College has produced 19,435 professional teachers since 2009 through distance learning as an accredited private institution focusing on training teachers for rural communities.
Addressing the 12th congregation of the College as the keynote speaker in Kumasi, Dr Adutwum paid glowing tribute to the founders of the College for their immense contribution to the teaching profession.
“When they started the journey, I don’t think they knew where they were heading, they faced various challenges even from us, the education establishment because we did not understand them.
When I became Deputy Minister I received complaints from people about Jackson, but when the results of the first licensure exams came out Jackson was topping the chart in terms of performance,” he confessed.
The Minister said the performance of the Jackson students proved that as a nation, we needed to focus on outcome and not processes.
“When we focus on the outcome we don’t judge you by the kind of college you went to, we judge you by what outcome you have produced, so as I congratulate the graduates I also want to congratulate the founders for your foresight and innovation that has brought all of us here,” Dr. Adutwum observed.
He reminded the graduands that they were going into an education space that is fast changing and that they must be ready to adapt to a technologically inclined environment.
The Education Minister took some time off for a short presentation on efforts being made by the government to change the school environment with the provision of modern classrooms across the country.
He said the era where students studied in dilapidated classrooms was giving way for modern buildings conducive for effective academic work, saying that “we cannot educate 21st century children in 19th century buildings and expect 21st century outcomes.”
“Dilapidated buildings should not define public education in Ghana.
We need to change it, and we have begun the journey to change that,” the Minister assured.
Mrs Theodosia Jackson, Principal of JUC, said students of the college went through a carefully structured, learner-oriented distance education programme at 30 learning centres across 13 regions.
“We utilise our innovative blended online and in-person modes to engage students in learning, and our degree programmes are tailored to the Ministry of Education’s educational curriculum,” she noted.
She said the College had always adhered to best practices in line with quality assurance measures put in place by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the University of Education, Winneba which is their affiliate institution.
She challenged the graduands to continue their quest for knowledge and discover their unique ways to contribute to society.
“Your future contributions are crucial in addressing the pressing issues of our time, from environmental concerns to the development of alternative energy sources. Your generation holds the keys to the solutions, and I have no doubt that you will rise to the challenge,” she entreated them.
GNA