Sustaining transformation of Colleges of Education requires support of all

 DURING the swearing-in ceremony of the Gov­erning Councils of 10 Colleges of Education in Accra last Friday, the Minister of Edu­cation, Haruna Iddrisu, disclosed that Book and Research Allow­ances paid to tertiary schools in the country have ballooned from GH¢428million in 2023 to about GH¢712million this year.

The disclosure by the Minister of Education is not only remark­able, but also a clear demonstra­tion of government’s commitment towards ensuring that tertiary education gained its central role in growing the critical mass of human resource for the country’s socio-economic development.

Of particular note is the Colleges of Education, where allocations have more than tripled from GH¢31 million in 2023 to GH¢101 million this year alone.

This, coupled with additional in­vestments in faculty development, staff support, and student feeding, demonstrates a firm commitment by government to strengthen teacher education as well.

Equally significant is the announcement that processes are underway to grant full autonomy to all 46 Colleges of Education. Such a reform, when achieved, will elevate the institutions to universi­ty status, providing them the space to diversify academic programmes, improve governance, and enhance staff welfare.

As indicated by the sector Min­ister, already, faculty members have been migrated onto a university pay structure, with arrears settled under the enhanced remuneration scheme.

These interventions, The Ghanaian Times believes, reflect a bold vision to reposition the Colleges of Education as centres of academic excellence. Yet, they also pose challenges that must be managed with prudence. For us, autonomy must not become a licence for inefficiency or poor planning.

It is important that the Gov­erning Councils ensure account­ability and innovative resource management, while safeguarding student welfare. Issues of fees and feeding, as the Minister rightly acknowledged, must be addressed so that the promise of accessible education is not compromised.

The Ghanaian Times also supports the call for the colleges to expand their scope beyond teacher training. Ghana’s eco­nomic transformation depends on multi-disciplinary skills, and the upgraded institutions should be able to contribute to national development in diverse fields.

We commend government for the strategic direction it has set. However, we stress that imple­mentation must not be delayed or politicised.

Timely passage of the autono­my bill, completion of stalled in­frastructure projects, and effective monitoring systems are crucial to sustaining progress.

Transforming Colleges of Edu­cation into autonomous universi­ties is more than an administrative adjustment; it is an investment in human capital and a legacy for future generations.

The reforms, The Ghanaian Times believes that if sustained and effectively managed, will not only uplift teacher education but also strengthen the foundations of national development.

To this end, we call on all stakeholders within the education delivery value chain to support the government in undertaking these critical reforms. It is important for all Ghanaians to appreciate the fact that the quest to develop and become like our Asian coun­terparts largely depends on the quality of education.

Any attempt to toy with edu­cation will adversely impact the development of the country and everything must be done to ensure that the reforms as captured in the government’s reset blue-print is implemented to the letter, since that is the only way the quest for quality and impactful education can be achieved.