Ucc Begins Stakeholder Engagements to Align Programmes With Shs Reforms

Following the rollout of the new curriculum for Second-Cycle Schools by the Ministry of Education, the University of Cape Coast (UCC) is adapting its teaching and evaluation systems to receive graduates from the reformed Senior High School (SHS) system.

To this end, UCC is raising awareness among key university stakeholders, including Deans, Heads of Departments, and lecturers, about the competencies and 21st-century values embedded in the new SHS curriculum developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA).

The curriculum emphasises competency-based learning, problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking to better prepare students for tertiary education and the demands of the job market.

In the light of this, the College of Education Studies has kicked off a five-day stakeholder engagement with lecturers across the College to sensitise them to the SHS reforms and align its programmes with national education reforms.

The Provost of the College of Education Studies, Professor Douglas Darko Agyei, who spoke on the topic, “UCC Capacity-Building for Institutional Alignment with National Education Reforms,” said the introduction of the new SHS curriculum had made it necessary for the College to streamline its programmes and adapt its teaching approaches to complement the reforms and meet the needs of SHS graduates.

He said, “The SHS curriculum now aims to equip learners with 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and digital literacy, while also promoting core Ghanaian values and inclusivity.”

Professor Darko Agyei  discussed the need to align tertiary assessment practices with the new SHS framework, as well as the implications of the reforms for university pedagogy and institutional readiness.

He urged lecturers to take an active role in the alignment process, stressing that their involvement was critical to ensuring the success of the curriculum.

He further announced that a significant component of the rollout was the introduction of a new assessment approach and the Student Transcript Portal (STP) for the SHS curriculum.

He further announced that a significant component of the rollout was the introduction of a new assessment approach and the Student Transcript Portal (STP) for the SHS curriculum.

According to him, the STP is a centralised system that stores comprehensive learner information, including biodata, semester records, subject combinations, assigned classes, continuous assessment data, credit hours, grades, grade point averages (GPAs), and Cumulative Grade Point Averages (CGPAs).

The Provost indicated that the STP would enable tertiary institutions to access holistic student data that reflects not only academic grades but also competencies such as leadership, ethics, and teamwork.

In a brief remark, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Denis Aheto, commended the College of Education Studies for taking this major step to align its programmes with the SHS reforms. He urged faculty members to commit fully to the initiative and contribute to the development of new programmes.

He assured the College of management’s support to ensure that students are able to select programmes and subject areas that align with their interests and career goals.

Other facilitators for the sensitisation workshop include Professor Foster Ntow and Dr Ivy Kessewah, both from the College of Education Studies.