The Vicar General, Catholic Diocese of Jasikan, Rev Fr Dr. Joseph Kofi Nsiah, has appealed to stakeholders to join forces with the government to develop the country’s colleges of education. 

According to him, these institutions, which were upgraded to degree-awarding tertiary institutions, are plagued with numerous challenges which impede the quality of training teachers receive. 

He was speaking at the 13th Congregation of the Jasikan College of Education in the Jasikan District of the Oti Region. 

He identified lack of adequate human resources, infrastructure deficit, poor conditions of service, inadequate academic logistics among others, as challenges that need to be addressed in colleges of education. 

He indicated that resolving these challenges would propel academic activities and position the colleges of education to be identified as tertiary awarding institutions as the name depicts. 

Rev Fr Dr. Nsiah entreated traditional authorities, parents, non-governmental organizations which he identified as external stakeholders, to contribute towards the development of the College of Education. 

He also implored lecturers to desist from engaging in “sex-for-grades”. According to the priest, the shameful act, would have dire consequences on the development of the country since the human resource produced, would not meet the requirements of the job market. 

The Principal of the Jasikan College of Education, Dr. Daniel Hammond, explained that various ICT modules had been adopted to enhance teaching and learning, following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

He indicated that “the college has made significant progress in staff development”. 

Dr. Hammond stated that Management had constructed walkways, established a College Clinic and is renovating staff bungalows, lecture halls and dormitories. 

He, however, underscored the urgent need for the construction of a fence and other facilities for the institution.

He added that Members of the institution’s Governing Council had already donated 100 bags of cement towards commencement of the project.

“We are also hopeful that the government will come to our aid in due course to enable us deal with our infrastructure deficit”, he said.

The Oti Regional Minister, Joshua Makubu, made known the government’s efforts to improving on the state of tertiary institutions in the country. He said government has made funds available through GETFund for professional development of tutors at the Colleges of Education.

He said that government is committed to expanding infrastructure in the tertiary institutions to enable them admit and accommodate beneficiaries of the Free SHS.

“The government is going to provide more facilities including lecture halls and hostels to the Colleges of Education very soon and JASICO will by all means get its share”, he said.

The 2018/2019 cohorts comprised 405 graduates, with 3 obtaining 1st Class, while the 2019/2020 cohort comprised 324 graduates. 11 obtained first class.