St Francis College of Education records highest number of first-class graduates

St Francis College of Education (FRANCO) in Hohoe has recorded its highest number of first-class graduates since the introduction of the Bachelor of Education programme.

A total of 459 students graduated at the college's 18th Congregation Ceremony, with 135 obtaining First Class honours. Another 257 graduated with Second Class Upper Division, 61 earned Second Class Lower Division, while six obtained Third Class honours. No student graduated with a pass.

The graduates comprised 270 men and 189 women, making the 2025 graduating class the best-performing cohort since the Bachelor of Education programme was introduced.

The congregation was held on the theme, "Empowering Future Educators: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence."

Addressing the graduates, the Acting Principal of the college, Dr Christopher Dewodo, said although artificial intelligence was reshaping education, it could not replace the human qualities of integrity, empathy, discipline and moral responsibility that define effective teaching.

He urged the newly trained teachers to embrace technology as a tool to improve learning while remaining committed to professionalism and lifelong learning.

Dr Dewodo also highlighted developments undertaken by the college over the past year, including the resumption of work on a government-funded 300-bed hostel project, the procurement of 400 chairs to improve lecture hall capacity and the refurbishment of the college's pickup vehicle and Eicher bus used for teaching practice.

He said five lecturers had completed doctoral studies, increasing the number of PhD holders at the college to 12, while the institution continued its academic partnership with Thomas More University of Applied Sciences in Belgium through an annual student exchange programme.

The Acting Principal appealed for support from government, corporate organisations, alumni and other stakeholders to expand the college's infrastructure with additional lecture theatres, ICT facilities and a new bus.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the Chief of Staff, Mr. Julius Debrah, Presidential Envoy for Inter-Faith and Ecumenical Relations, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, described teaching as the profession on which all others depend and reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening education.

The Bishop of the Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, urged the graduates to use artificial intelligence responsibly in the classroom while exercising sound professional judgement.

Eight students received awards for outstanding academic performance, with Bless Kpogah named Overall Best Graduating Student and Josephine Denyo recognised as the Best Graduating Female.