”We are changing the way we look at education in this country”- Robin Todd Addresses Gambaga College of Education

The Gambaga College of Education ceremonial grounds was an interesting place on Saturday, July 24, 2021, as Mr. Robin Todd, Executive Director of T-TEL surprised everyone present by beginning his motivational address in Mampruli. Mampruli is a language spoken in northern Ghana by the Mamprusi people. He made this speech at the 2nd graduation ceremony of Gambaga College of Education (CoE).  Gambaga CoE is one of Ghana’s 46 public Colleges of Education located at Gambaga in the North East Region of Ghana. The College is affiliated to University for Development Studies.  

Mr. Todd stated that Ghana had made significant changes in how teachers are trained, citing the importance of the National Teachers’ Standards. “The National Teachers’ Standards, which guides teacher preparation and practice in the country, tells us what a good teacher in Ghana must do“.  He further urged the graduands to practicalise what they had learned in the College to impact the classroom positively. “When I came to the College, I saw many exciting and more practical approaches to teaching. It was new, it was different, and it was interactive. We are changing the way we look at education in this country, but it all amounts to you, the graduates, and the student teachers. You have been trained in this new and exciting way, which will help us develop as a nation. If you go back to school and start using the same old practices, these investments will be wasted.”

                                                                                       Robin Todd addressing the congregation

A total of 880 students graduated with Diploma in Basic Education. The number comprises of graduates from 2018, 2019, and 2020 year groups. The 2018 batch had 315 graduates, the 2019 batch had a student population of 339, and the 2020 batch had 226 graduates.

Mr. Ezekiel Agambire Awane and Ms. Jane Achegebuga Addi were the overall best students for the 2020 batch.  Mr. Apungu John Aboyure, Ms. Banono Mavis and Master Akolgo Nyaaba Amos and Ms. Kasim Rabiatu were also adjudged Best Graduating students for 2019 and 2018 respectively.  They received various award packages, including brand new laptops and mobile tablets.

                                                                                             Graduands of Gambaga college

In his address, the Principal of the College, Mr. Kassim Korah Nantomah, discussed student enrollment and infrastructural challenges and some actions taken to address some of the challenges. Through Internally Generated Fund, we managed to put up a 10-unit and 2-unit dormitory blocks which are now serving as student hostels. Though not enough, these facilities are solving issues related to the long commute by students for lectures each day.

                                                                                            Mr. Nantomah giving the principal’s address                                   

Mr. Nantomah also applauded T-TEL for its support to the College. “I cannot conclude on physical infrastructure without mentioning T-TEL’s support to the College. The College received fairly used office equipment from T-TEL comprising chairs, tables, cabinets, three laptop computers, a printer, and a tablet. T-TEL also supported the College in constructing a changing room for female students to foster inclusive learning through the Payment by Results (PbR) project.”

Dignitaries present at the graduation ceremony were the North East Regional Minister, Mr. Yidana Zakaria, Prof. Imoro Braimah, Former Provost of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences – KNUST, Chiefs, the Honourable Member of Parliament for Walewale Constituency, Hajia Lariba Zuwera Abudu, Acting Municipal Chief Executive of East Mamprusi Municipal Assembly, Representative of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Rev. Dr. Samuel Naadam, Representative of the Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, Professor Anthony Donkor, and Principals of Colleges of Education.

Source: Colleges of Education Weekly Journal.