Methodist College of Education holds matriculation

The Methodist College of Education (METCOE) has held its 13th Matriculation Ceremony at Akyem Oda with the formal admission of 345 students to pursue the 4-Year Bachelor of Education degree programme in primary and junior high schools.

Addressing the matriculants, the Principal of the college, Very Rev. Solomon Kwame Gyamerah, said the institution with its current enrolment of 1,126, comprising 538 males and 588 females, had been continuously consistent in fulfilling its policies on all-inclusiveness and gender responsiveness.

He stated that the college’s programmes were designed to equip the students with the necessary pedagogical skills, critical thinking abilities and professional ethics to make a lasting impact in the teaching profession.

Success in tertiary education, he stressed, required more than just intelligence, it also demanded hard work, consistency, self-discipline, time management and critical thinking.

Very Rev. Gyamerah, therefore, urged the students to be committed to attending all lectures and tutorials, engage in academic discussions and research, seek mentorship from lecturers and experienced students, avoid distractions and maintain a disciplined study routine.

He said as METCOE was a mission-minded college, it took pride in nurturing student-teachers to achieve academic excellence, as well as inculcating into them high moral values that focused on character development.

METCOE, the principal stressed, had a highly intelligent and competent staff who were poised to ensure the students received quality training, mentorship and professional development to enable them to achieve academic excellence and the right discipline to excel in the classroom and community.

He said the institution’s affiliation with the University of Education Winneba (UEW) ensured that the students received a high-quality teacher education that aligned with national and global standards.

Very Rev. Gyamerah mentioned the lack of transportation as the college’s major problem and, therefore, appealed to the government to assist the institution in procuring a 60-seater and above bus to facilitate the movement of students for their outreach programmes.

He also appealed for a duty vehicle for the principal to enhance supervisory work.

The principal was grateful to the Methodist Church Ghana, beginning from the society, St Luke Cathedral, the Oda Diocese and the Connexion for their continuous support of the college since its establishment.

Very Rev. Gyamerah also thanked the government for the great assistance it had rendered to the Colleges of Education to fully attain their tertiary status and the implementation of the migration of staff of the institutions on the university salary structure.

Mr Andy Yao Agordah of the Institute of Teacher Education and Continuing Professional Development of the UEW, who deputized for the Vice-Chancellor, said the UEW was the leading university for teacher education in Ghana.

He said the university had the mandate to train quality teachers for all levels of education, conduct research, disseminate research findings and contribute to the development of the country, adding that the institution had discharged that role dutifully in over 30 years of its existence.

Mr Agordah said the UEW collaborated with affiliated colleges to develop and periodically review the curricula, ensuring that they remained relevant and responsive to emerging educational needs.

He emphasised that through workshops, seminars and training programmes, UEW enhanced the pedagogical and administrative capacities of faculty and staff at affiliated colleges.