The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) held a two-day workshop on the 24th and 25th May 2021 for Professional Development Coordinators (PDCs), Subject Leads and Heads of Department (HoDs) from the five (5) Colleges of Education (CoES) affiliated to the University at the St. Joseph’s College of Education (JOSCO).
The workshop’s purpose was to build participants’ capacity to facilitate Professional Development Sessions (PDS) in their various CoES. The workshop also enabled participants to familiarise themselves with the Professional Development (PD) manual for Year 2 semester 2 courses. Significant in this is understanding and addressing equity, inclusivity, and cross cutting issues and ensuring that the manuals align with the National Teachers’ Standards (NTS), National Teacher Education Curriculum Framework (NTECF) and the National Teacher Education Assessment Policy (NTEAP).
In attendance were KNUST lecturers who doubled as facilitating subject leads, the Principal and College Secretary of JOSCO, tutors from St. Joseph’s College of Education, Akrokerri College, E.P College of Education, Bimbilla, Tamale College, and Wesley College of Education.
Fifty tutors from the 5 CoEs, including subject-leads from KNUST, with three T-TEL staff, attended the workshop. Seven female tutors participated in the workshop. Participants worked in various subject groups that the PD materials were written on. The facilitators guided the tutors during the training and explained the various courses and sequence of activities developed to help them understand and teach them confidently in the classrooms.
Tutors worked collaboratively with their subject-leads to study and understand the manuals and allowed room for feedback. Periods were dedicated for general demonstration of PD sessions. PDCs at the end of the workshop were advised to not only explain PD sessions but rather present them as regular sessions.