Over 5,000 teacher trainees have been offered scholarships by the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat since the Akufo-Addo government came into office.
This was disclosed by the Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, at the opening of the 28th annual Delegate’s Congress of the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG’s) on March 25, 2024.
He was emphasising the significance of financial support from stakeholders in the education chain, which he said, was a crucial enabler for aspiring educators.
He explained that such financial support allows the teacher trainees to pursue their educational aspirations unencumbered by financial constraints.
“In my capacity as the Registrar of the Scholarships Secretariat, I have observed the profound impact that scholarships have on the lives of teacher trainees.
Notably, the Secretariat’s ground-breaking decision to award scholarships to over 5,000 trainees nationwide marks a significant milestone in our commitment to supporting teacher education,” Dr. Agyemang stated.
He continued that, “these scholarships represent more than financial aid; they serve as a vital lifeline, empowering trainees to chase their educational dreams, without the worry of tuition fees.”
However, this support, Dr. Ayemang noted, is complementary to the government’s allowance scheme.
He touched on the value of education, while commending teachers for their sacrifices to impact knowledge in people and also commended those for supporting education in the country.
While at that he mentioned his widow’s mite in that regard, particularly in the Abuakwa South Municipality where he is the Parliamentary Candidate for the NPP in that constituency.
According to him, he had witnessed firsthand the transformative impact that skilled teachers can have on community-based learning initiatives.
He said, “Teachers proficient in literacy skills have been instrumental in the success of various programmes I have championed, including the Kingsley Spelling Challenge for Upper Primary Schools, the Kingsley Readathon Challenge for Lower Primary Schools, the Kingsley Science and Maths Quiz for Junior High Schools and the Kingsley Debate and Mentorship Series for Senior High Schools.
He continued that, “with the collaboration of my partners, we have constructed a six-unit, fully-equipped classroom block, the Akosua Agyeiwaa Memorial Methodist JHS in Asiakwa, to support the dedicated efforts of our educators.
“Additionally, in a bid to evaluate the effectiveness of these educational initiatives, I spearheaded a two-cohort stakeholder engagement session in January this year, in collaboration with the Abuakwa South Municipal Education Directorate.
“This session was attended by leaders and coordinators from various educational sectors, providing valuable insights into the impact of our initiatives over the past years. These contributions represent my modest effort to enhance educational quality in the municipality.”
The President of the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana, Kwame Sefah, also noted that the trainees are faced with challenges such as the double track/shift system in the colleges resulting from inadequate infrastructure in terms of residence and classrooms and the all-year-round teaching in the colleges.
We also saw the industrial strike actions, which disrupted academic activities in the colleges.
“Additionally, there were also issues surrounding the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE), particularly the pass mark for grading the examination.
“As an association and the mouthpiece of teacher trainees, we have on numerous occasions and in various ways engaged relevant stakeholders on the challenges faced by the colleges of education, and we were fortunate to have the pass mark for the GTLE set at 52 percent,’’ he added.
