The Principal of Komenda College of Education, Very Rev. Kwesi Nkum Wilson (PhD), has made an impassioned appeal to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to give greater consideration to ensuring that Colleges are adequately equipped to train Ghanaian language teachers, with a focus on the languages spoken in each College’s locality.
During the 13th congregation for the first batch of B.Ed students held on Saturday, 17th June 2023, Dr. Wilson highlighted that despite the importance of promoting Ghanaian languages, they are not currently given the prominence that they deserve.
As a result, concerted efforts need to be made to ensure that enough teachers are produced for all 12 official languages.
In his speech, Dr. Wilson emphasized that every Ghanaian language is essential and should be preserved to maintain the country’s rich cultural diversity.
However, this preservation can only be achieved if we have skilled teachers who are equipped to teach these languages effectively.
Dr. Wilson’s appeal comes at a time when the country is facing a significant shortage of qualified Ghanaian language teachers.
Though the government has taken some measures to address this, they are often insufficient, and more needs to be done to ensure that every Ghanaian language is taught and learned effectively.
Throughout his address, Dr. Wilson underscored the need for Ghanaian language teachers to be well-trained in the languages spoken in their locality.
This approach can help ensure that students receive language education that is tailored to their context, making learning more accessible, enjoyable, and engaging.
He hopes that the GTEC and other stakeholders involved in teacher training will take note of this pressing issue and make meaningful interventions to address it, ensuring that future generations of Ghanaian students can learn their languages effectively and preserve their cultural heritage.
At the end of the ceremony, a total of 374 students graduated, with 14 receiving first-class honors, 199 obtaining second-class upper honors, 130 graduating with second-class lower honors, and 31 students receiving third-class honors. Significantly, no student graduated with a pass, highlighting the College’s commitment to producing well-trained and high-performing educators.