By Isaac Arkoh
Komenda (C/R), Sept 28, GNA – Professor Frederick Kwaku Sarfo, the Vice-Chancellor of the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), has urged graduates to move beyond earning certificates and demonstrate practical skills that solve problems, spur innovation and create opportunities.
In a speech read on his behalf at the graduation of the 16th convocation of the Komenda College of Education, he stated that the changing landscape of higher education required graduates to pair applied skills with ethical professionalism to drive community and national development.
To achieve that, he called for a shift in teaching approaches, saying educators should act as facilitators, mentors and role models rather than merely transmitters of information.
“Skills without integrity can be harmful,” Prof Sarfo cautioned, adding, “Your classroom is a laboratory of citizenship Learners closely emulate teachers’ honesty, respect and resilience.”
Under the theme: “Sustaining Quality Teacher Education: Embracing Innovative Pedagogies and Digital Tools for the 21st Century Classroom,” the graduating cohort of 457, including 207 females, were awarded Bachelor of Science Education across multiple programmes.
One hundred and seventeen graduated in Primary Education; 98 in Science Education, 59 in Mathematics and ICT Education, 58 in Home Economics, 52 in Agriculture, 31 in Visual Arts, and 16 in Technical Education.
A decade-long summary of the college’s academic output shows it has produced more than 3,872 graduates: 422 with first-class honours, 1,672 with second-class upper, 1,248 with second-class lower, 476 with third class, and 77 with pass degrees.
Prof Sarfo urged the College to strengthen practical, competency-based learning, digital literacy, entrepreneurship education, research-driven teaching and professional partnerships.
He also thanked parents and guardians for their support and left the graduands with five guiding principles: “keep learning, develop practical skills, think innovatively, serve with integrity, and create impact.”
Addressing the congregation, Dr Kwesi Nkum Wilson, the Principal of the College, said the presentation of certificates was not being celebrated alone, but also the journey of perseverance, teaching practice and examinations that prepared the graduands for the classroom.
He recognised rapid technological change and shifting learner needs and stressed that the modern teacher must be a facilitator, critical thinker, innovator, collaborator and digital user with professional competence, values and resilience.
Highlighting a ‘paradigm shift’ in teacher education, Dr Wilson said, the College had expanded programmes to include Ghanaian Languages and was advocating for greater attention to Physical Education, Music and Agricultural Education at the basic level.
He urged the Ghana Education Service to adopt deployment policies ensuring at least 60 percent of classroom teachers were professionally trained to improve teacher distribution and quality.
On digital transformation, he stressed that teacher preparation must go beyond basic computer literacy, so graduates could use digital tools for instruction, assessment and resource access.
He listed partnerships with institutions, which included the Wiawso College of Education and programmes such as the Agorudi Ma Osuahu (AMO).
He announced ongoing discussions with Shinawatra University (Thailand) and Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, Lagos and indicated that the College had concluded a review of its 2023–2026 Strategic Plan in August 2026 and was preparing the 2027–2032 plan.
Prof Richardson Addai-Mununkum, Professor of Curriculum and Pedagogy at the University of Education, Winneba, urged graduates of the school to sustain quality teacher education by embracing innovative pedagogies and digital tools for the 21st-century classroom.
He advised lecturers to model digital pedagogy in lecture halls and warned against reverting to outdated teacher-centred methods.
Prof Addai-Mununkum encouraged graduates to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities in education, avoid entitlement, keep professional documents up to date, and choose life partners who support their career growth.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Bertha Badu-Agyei/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Isaac Arkoh
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]