The Principal of the Bagabaga College of Education (BACE), Dr Amadu Musah has disclosed that the poor working conditions of staff of Colleges of Education (CoEs) have opened a window for public universities in the country to poach their qualified staff. 

Dr Amadu said the situation is so bad that nothing motivates the staff of CoEs to remain as workers.

He, therefore, appealed to the Minister of Education to consider the problem as a matter of concern that needs to be addressed.

Dr Amadu also raised concerns about the challenges the Bagabaga Colleges of Education is bedevilled with citing staff and students accommodation as a few.

“It would be recalled that in 2008, 38 publicly-owned Teacher Training Institutions (TTIs) that offered certificate programs to prepare teachers for basic schools in Ghana, were elevated to tertiary status and re-designated as Colleges of Education (COEs) to offer tertiary programmes, since the elevation and re-designation of TTIs as Colleges of Education, the institutions have faced various challenges which threaten the consolidation of their status as tertiary institutions," he said at the 8th congregation of the College over the weekend.

The Principal noted that BACE has not seen any additional infrastructure for more than 10 years.

He said the only attempt was in 2009 when the Regional Coordinating Council through GET Fund awarded the construction of a female hall to a contractor, adding that for 12 agonizing years, the building is yet to be completed.

He said the college also lacks facilities such as a modern computer laboratory, library, among others.

The Principal appealed to the government to remedy the situation.

The college graduated its last two batches of diploma in basic education students with a total of 985 graduates.

Out of this number 510 were from the 2019 year group, comprising 370 males and 140 females, with eight of them obtaining first class, while the 2020 year group had a population of 475, comprising 109 females and 366 males, with 27 first classes.

It also commissioned an ultra-modern auditorium/lecture hall complex through its internally generated funds with a seating capacity of 600.

The lecture halls can also take about 100 students. Other facilities in the complex include offices, a cafeteria, and washrooms among others.