Ghana's teacher education curriculum questioned

A lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is calling for an overhaul of the country’s teacher education curriculum.

Head of Integrated Art and Rural Industry Department, Osei Boahin, says what pertains presently does not encourage innovation among trainees.

He noted the rigidity of teacher trainee curriculum is affecting their delivery in classroom as teachers.

“These people are going to assume higher responsibilities after school; managers I should say and in this situation in the classroom. The current curriculum train students in a particular jacket line with no liberty to explore and find solutions to problems, the curriculum must be reviewed,” he noted.

The lecturer is urging the Ghana Education Service to involve much research activities in the curriculum of teacher trainees.

He spoke to Luv News at the Annual Delegates’ Songress of the Teacher Trainees Association (TTAG) in Kumasi on the theme, “Tertiarization of the Colleges of Education; A Reality or Mirage”.

Dr. Osei Boahin believes the Ministry of Education should focus on providing all the necessary structures to elevate all teacher training colleges into tertiary status.

Meanwhile, teacher trainees are asking government to treat them differently from other tertiary students by restoring their allowances.

Government has abolished teacher trainee allowances in line with the tertiary status of colleges of education and also to increase intake of teacher trainees.

The students however argue their mode of training differs from other tertiary institutions.

President of the Teacher Trainee Association of Ghana, Daniel Osei, told Luv News the alternative student loan scheme cannot serve their purpose.

“Comparing to that of the universities and polytechnics huge amounts are released for them per semester, but in our case a student will request for an amount and it will be reviewed to an insignificant amount… the processes we go through is too cumbersome as well,” he said.

Mr. Osei is also calling on government to spell out clearly the future of trainees after their training.

“We don’t know where we are going from here, is the government absorbing us or we are going to search for jobs? The government should clear this doubts in our minds” he demanded.