Winneba (C/R), April 8, GNA- The Distance Education Programme (DEP) of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) with 1,096 students three years ago, now has 5,361 students.

This followed the admission of 2,222 fresh students this year. This was contained in a speech read on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Anamuah-Mensah, at the matriculation ceremony at which the students were formally enrolled by the university at Winneba on Thursday.

Prof. Anamuah-Mensah said out of the 136 first batch students, two had first class, 39 had second upper division in diploma in Basic Education (DBE), while of the 108 students who constituted the second batch, 22 had second upper Division.

He said the success of the post Diploma Distance Education Programme (DDEP) is an indication that distance education could well be the way forward for the university as it helps to address the issues of access, equity and equality of opportunity.

The programme, according to Prof. Anamuah-Mensah, has also proved that many classroom teachers were capable of self-directed learning if given the appropriate materials.

Prof. Anamuah-Mensah said the programme which commenced with only four study centres could now boast of as many as 12 centres in all the 10 regions in the country, adding that the university is collaborating with the commonwealth of learning (COL) to launch a distance education programme in technical teacher education (TTE)

He said the modules for the new programme are being written by lecturers of the UCEW's college of Technology Education in Kumasi. Prof. Anamuah-Mensah advised the students to let their attitudes reflect the ideals of the university, saying that UCEW was bent on producing the best teachers for the school system in the country.

He said the university has excellent teaching staff who were committed and ready to support them in their studies, and further urged the distance education students to take their studies more serious. The distance education programme offers education in Bachelor of Education, English, Mathematics, Science, and Life Skills.