The University has held the 11th Session of the 49th congregation for the Institute of Education where a total of 1, 899 students were graduated. The congregation recorded 54% female students graduating out of the total number of students who pursued the Bachelor of Education (Basic Education) and (Early Childhood) through the sandwich mode and 45% males. They were from the St. Louis College of Education, Kumasi, St. Joseph College of Education, Bechem, SDA College of Education, Koforidua, St. Teresa’s College of Education, Hohoe, and the Holy Child College of Education, Sekondi centres. Addressing the graduands, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, said the Institute would continue to train tutors of colleges to build on their research capacity and also partner them in undertaking research in teacher education and professional development. Prof. Ampiah announced that the University would soon migrate the records of all students of the Institute onto the University of Cape Coast Online Students Information System (UCCOSIS) with that of the Institute’s Learning Management System (LSM). “With this migration, learning will be individualized since each student will have a personal portal to access examination results and other information related to academic work. The migration will also help to eliminate avoidable errors and duplications”, the Vice-Chancellor said. According to the Vice-Chancellor, plans were underway to link the Institute to international research agencies and institutions, as well as development partners that provide funding for research. “These collaborations and linkages we believe will help to project the image of the Institute as a leading teacher education centre in the Sub-Sahara Africa”, he added. Prof. Ampiah said there were plans to institute a periodic research on issues in basic education, pre-service and in-service training to inform policy dialogue on improving education quality in Ghana. He advised the graduands to step out of their comfort zone in order to bring the needed change to their communities. “You will never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone: change begins at the end of your comfort zone. I charge you to step out and show the world what you are made of. People may try to discourage and belittle you, but always stand bold and say to yourself YES I CAN”, he advised. Belinda Narkuor, from the St. Teresa’s College of Education Centre at Hohoe, emerged as the best graduating student with the CGPA of 3.95. She took away a laptop computer and an amount of GH¢ 800.
