Reverend Dr Kwesi Nkum Wilson, the Principal of the Komenda College of Education, has appealed to the Ministry of Education to reintroduce the study of Agricultural Science as a stand-alone subject in basic schools.
Speaking at the 75th anniversary of the College, Dr Wilson highlighted the importance of agricultural education programs, not only in training students to become farmers but also as a means of developing future scientists, nutritionists, and teachers.
He suggested that a combination of classroom instruction and applied agriculture experiences outside the classroom could build the foundation for educated consumers and agriculturists.
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However, new entrants often face challenges due to their lack of basic agricultural science knowledge from a stand-alone course at the Junior High School level.
Dr Wilson urged the government to take a second look at the curriculum to salvage the future of agriculture in Ghana, emphasizing that agriculture is the backbone of the economy of Ghana.
He also called for the accreditation of private basic schools based on a 50% trained, certified, and licensed teaching staff to ensure that teacher trainees who completed the Bachelor of Education Programmes from the colleges of education could be posted to practice in these schools.
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The Komenda College of Education has made significant strides in the training of a high-quality teacher workforce for the country in its 75 years of existence, hinging on its founding values of academic excellence, service to God, and service to mankind.
With the number of private educational institutions in Ghana outnumbering government schools, particularly in the urban areas, there is a need for trained teachers to meet the growing demand for quality education.