Day: June 11, 2023

Professor Kwaku Obosu-Mensah, Professor of Sociology at the Lorain County Community College, USA, has called on the 2023 graduating class of the St. Francis College of Education (FRANCO), to embrace change for development.

He said without change, there would be no progress since change also meant curiosity and venturing into the unknown.

Prof. Obosu-Mensah, speaking at the 1st Congregation for the Bachelor of Education Degree Programme in Hohoe, said the graduands should not choose to stay in their comfort zones but be willing to move on when the opportunity knocked on their doors.

He said the graduands who were teachers and would impact knowledge in future generations, must be willing to embrace changes that would come along in their field of practice especially regarding Information, Communication and Technology (ICT).

Prof. Obosu-Mensah noted that being technologically knowledgeable in the field of ICT was not about mastering what one was taught but using the fundamentals acquired as a step or springboard into the future.

Prof Obosu-Mensah urged them to impact their society through their technological knowledge.

Prof Obosu-Mensah said the graduands must position themselves to influence decisions to bring development to the people wherever they may.

The ceremony was on the theme: ‘Embracing change and Lifelong Learning for Teachers, through I.C. T. for development.’

Dr Adwoa Kwegyiriba, Principal of the College commended the graduands for their dedication to learning, their quest for knowledge and passion for teaching in communities in Ghana.

She said in quest to improve the College’s housing situation, the government had made provision for a 300-bed capacity hostel, which was steadily under construction.

Dr Kwegyiriba said the College had equipped its computer laboratory with 50 ultra-modern computers, networking equipment and other accessories to support teaching and learning whiles the library had also been refurbished with modern furniture, books, and other facilities.

Mr John-Peter Amewu, Hohoe Constituency Member of Parliament and Minister of Railway Development, urged management and stakeholders to continue to put in efforts to make sure the College was transformed into a competitive University on its own.

He urged the graduands to become humble and dedicated professionals while commending the tutors and parents for their sacrificial works.

Mr Amewu noted that without the contributions of teachers to nation building, it would be difficult for any nation without a solid College of Education to achieve its goals.

Mr Amewu urged the graduands to impact the knowledge and wisdom they had acquired, demonstrate a life worthy of human capacity development and also live by the motto, vision and mission of the College.

Togbe Buami IX, Chief of Gbi Bla representing the Gbi Paramount Chief, Togbega Gabusu VII, calls for unity among citizens and urged them to have the foresight to embrace positive changes in making the country a beautiful place.

Out of a total 357 students graduating, Miss Erica Ama Tiokpoe, swept six awards and emerged overall best student.

A new signage for the College was also unveiled as part of the ceremony.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Theosalt School of Ministry, a Ho-based Practical Theological Institute, has graduated it’s second batch of 15 students and presented them with certificates.

The students had a six-month intensive training in Ministerial Ethics, Christian Leadership, Christian Doctrine, Homiletic, Evangelism and Mission.

The rest are Hermeneutics, ICT, Marriage, Five Fold Ministry and Church Administration.

The first batch saw the graduation of 31 students.

Speaking at the Graduation Ceremony at Ho-Ahoe Assemblies of God Church, Ghana, Evangelical Central Chapel in the Ho Municipality, Rev. Godson Kwaku Bodza, the President of Theosalt School of Ministry, said sound Theological Education was essential for building the capacity of the present and future workforce for global evangelism.

He said Theological Education was the foundation for Christian mission and that sound Theological Education was important for building and equipping the capacity of the present and future ministerial workforce for global harvest.

Rev. Bodza, who is also the Lead Pastor of the Assemblies of God Church, Ghana, Evangelical Central Chapel, said Theological Education was important in the 21st Century as it helped equip the ministerial workforce for the eleventh-hour global harvest.

He said it was because of this that Theosalt School of Ministry existed to supplement other Theological Education Institutions in the building, training, and equipping of folks to assist the local church in its Mission Agenda in Fulfilling Mission Dei, the Mission of God.

The Man of God, advised the graduands to impact the generation by winning souls into the Kingdom of God, bringing healing and deliverance to those who are bound, bringing sight to those who are blinded by the kingdom of darkness and bringing joy and peace to those who are mourning.

Rev. Bodza said they also ought to change attitudes, behaviours and mindsets leading to transformation of the masses; leading souls into heaven and bringing glory to God.

Bishop Dr. Joe Olley, the Head Pastor of the Life Celebration Assembly Church, said every Christian must be an amateur theologian to know more about God and that was the foundation for Christianity.

Bishop Dr. Olley, who was the Guest Speaker and spoke under the theme: ‘Service, the Key to the Top,’ said ‘we are in an era where titles are overtaking service and that is an error.’

He said though titles were good, that should be replaced by service as service is the key to the top.

Bishop Dr Olley said if one serves his father and the father prays for him, then he prospers.

He charged the graduands to be committed to the service of God, avoid chasing material things and it shall be well with them.

He said as they ventured into ministerial works, opportunities would abound, so they should utilize it to support God’s work.

Bishop Olley urged them to be holy as holiness sustains and protects.

He also advised them to make good friends, share notes and envy no one during ministration.

Mrs Charlotte Bodza, the Vice-President of Theosalt School of Ministry, giving background to the school, said it started as an off shoot of Theosalt Agape Centre, now Theosalt Ministries International at Salaga in the Savanna Region in the year 2018.

She said it was birthed out of a burden for Church growth through capacity building.

Mrs Bodza said it has trained over 80 people in that region since its birth.

The Vice President said when they were transferred to Ho, they sold the idea, and it was accepted, and the school started in January 2022.

She said the school has come to stay to impact Ho community and beyond.

Mrs Bodza said society needed leaders, who are aware of critical world issues that challenge our faith and are ready and willing to confront these issues with Biblical Principles and the Power of the Holy Spirit and as well expand the Kingdom of God.

The graduands were awarded Certificates with the Most Punctual Award going to Mr. Wisdom Kordzoga, while Ms Jacqueline Bam and Madam Vivian Coffie took the Best Performing and Best Behave students Awards.

Mr. Kordzoga, who is visually impaired person, expressed gratitude to the management of the school for recognising him and pledged to encourage other Persons with Disabilities to follow-suit.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, has urged the 2022 batch of graduands of the St. Teresa’s College of Education (TERESCO), Hohoe, to reposition themselves to take advantage of government’s supportive environment for entrepreneurship.

He urged them to also reposition for development of creative minds for innovation.

Dr Adutwum in a speech read on his behalf by Prof. Yayra Dzakadzie, Director for Tertiary Education, on the 14th annual Congregation and the first of the Bachelor of Education programme, said government had prioritised the professional development of teachers and recognised their crucial role in shaping the future of the nation.

‘With the introduction of professional development allowance for teachers and investing in training programmes and continuous professional development opportunities,

‘The government ensures that teachers are equipped with the latest teaching methodologies, pedagogical skills, and subject knowledge.’

Dr Adutwum noted that teaching was not merely a job but a calling which required a commitment to lifelong learning, a dedication to cultivating young minds and unwavering belief in the power of education to shape the world.

He said tasked the graduation class to embrace their passion for teaching and let it guide their everyday endeavour.

Dr Adutwum called on them to embrace challenges since they were opportunities for growth, embrace diversity of learners to enrich their educational experience and embrace the power of education to transform lives, for it was a privilege and a responsibility they held in their hands.

He called on them to work together to create a future where every child had access to quality education, where no dream was out of reach and where every young mind could blossom and thrive.

Dr Adutwum noted that government had released the sum of GHS241,913,000 for payment of teacher trainee allowance across the country.

He revealed that the government had earmarked some Colleges of Education to be converted into full-fledged Universities, adding that work was also in progress at all 46 Colleges benefiting from a 300-bed capacity hostels project.

The ceremony on the theme: ‘Social Emotional Learning: An essential skill for the 21st century teacher.’

Mr Freeman Gobah, Country Director, Pencils of Promise, said through Social Emotional Learning (SEL), a teacher was able to acquire skills that would enable them to become self-aware of who they were socially.

Mr Gobah said through SEL, teachers were able to take good decisions and become responsible to their communities and school environments.

Ms Sophia A. Micah, Principal of the College, said the College was the only female College among the seven high performing Colleges of Education in Ghana based on the Fidelity of Implementation of the B. Ed Programme Report.

She said although the College was proud of its achievements, there was more room for improvement, adding that the support of stakeholders had brought the College thus far.

She said the College was a beneficiary of government’s 300-bed capacity hostels which was timely because it would enable the College accommodate students comfortably.

Ms Micah said the College was unable to recruit more staff since they did not have financial clearance, which was affecting some departments of the College.

The College, she said, needed a Home Economics complex block with equipment and Science laboratory to help the College effectively teach the subjects.

Ms Micah advised the graduands to engage in continuous professional development to equip themselves adequately to meet the demands of the changing trends in education.

Togbega Gabusu VII, Paramount Chief of Gbi Traditional Area, noted that education was a key factor in bringing about socio-economic transformation and urged the graduands to make significant and everlasting impact in the lives of individuals and communities they found themselves.

A total of 230 students graduated from the Early Childhood, Primary and Junior High School Education Bachelor of Education (B. Ed) programmes offered by the College.

Ms Christine Duphey, emerged as the overall best student.

Source: Ghana News Agency