Jirapa (U/W), May 10, GNA -- Teacher Training colleges are to be upgraded into diploma and degree awarding institutions to improve upon the quality of teachers they turn out.

In line with this measures are being taken by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to tighten the entry requirements into Teacher Training Colleges to ensure that people who gain admission into them are good materials.

Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Deputy Minister in-charge of tertiary education said this when he addressed a forum of teachers at Jirapa on Tuesday. He said as part of efforts to modernise the Ghana Education Service (GES), educational administrators and accountants would be trained to become computer literate.

This, he said, would help minimise the problems associated with the payment of teachers, their transfer grants and travel and transport allowances. Dr Chambas said every district directorate of the GES would be provided with a computer which would be hooked to the regional and national capital to provide instant, accurate and reliable data for effective planning and management of resources.

Mr Cletus Paaga, Jirapa/Lambrusie District Director of Education, said enrolment in primary schools in the district has improved while those at the Junior Secondary School continue to decline as a result of increasing incidence of teenage pregnancy.

Dr Chambas held a similar forum with the staff of the GES and teachers at Lawra.