Winneba (C/R) Oct. 13, GNA - The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw has appealed to all stakeholders to make the teaching profession, a profession of choice.

"Let us together improve the working conditions of our teachers and empower them. "Let us improve on the facilities in our teacher training institutions to enable them perform maximally". Professor Asabere-Aneyaw made the appeal at the 16th Matriculation of the University of Education, Winneba where 1,882 students made up of 1143 males and 739 females were admitted to pursue degree and diploma courses at the University. According to the Vice-Chancellor, the University offered admission to a total of 4495 applicants for the undergraduate program at the Kumasi, Ashanti Mampong and Winneba campuses and only 3463 have so far accepted the offer. He said this is a short fall of 23 percent and wondered whether "Ghanaian youth are not interested in teaching or disinterested in educating at the UEW".

The VC therefore called for the provision of an acceptable learning environment that will produce teachers that will make the current educational reforms a success for accelerated development. Professor Asabere-Ameyaw said the University dedicated 75 per cent of its admissions into the undergraduate program to products of Senior High School.

He said the University had continued to increase female admission every year and to progressively increase quotas for Science and Mathematics program. As part of measures to encourage female enrolment in science based program, the University has established a scholarship scheme funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York to assist female students pursuing science-based program. The Registrar of the University, Mr C, Y, Akwaa-Mensah administered the matriculation oath to the students. 13 Oct. 08