Kumasi, July 20, GNA - The University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has pledged to provide regular in-service programmes for teachers to help the Ghana Education Service (GES) to achieve the goals of the Education Reform.

Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, Vice Chancellor, noted that with the implementation of the Reform, more teachers were now required to fill the increased vacancies as a result of the introduction of pre-school into the regular school programme, and the extension of the number of years for the Senior High School.

To this end, the University's programmes were being crafted to ensure the development of competent teachers and administrators. Professor Asabere-Ameyaw was addressing a matriculation ceremony of fresh students for the Bachelor of Education - Distance and Certificate programmes by Sandwich at the Kumasi Campus of the University at the weekend.

There were 1,722 students for the Diploma Programmes in Basic Education and 1,215 for the Bachelor of Education Programmes by distance mode. Professor Asabere-Ameyaw said the University through its innovative Sandwich Programme was attracting practicing teachers to update their skills and competencies during their vacation periods as a way of assisting them to be effective in their professional field. UCEW was established to provide education and foster a systematic advancement of science and the art of teacher education, to train tutors for the colleges of education and other tertiary institutions, provide teachers with professional competence among others.

He said it had since 1992, worked to achieve its mandate through a number of innovative and transformational programmes and activities and that "these have brought about consistent and significant improvement in all that we pursue including graduate professional teacher output, scholarship and the creation of a learner-friendly environment." He called on the fresh students to make the best use of their time in the university.

The Vice Chancellor urged them to exercise moderation in their activities and to avoid offensive dressing, promiscuous life, alcoholism and drug abuse since such actions had the potential to undermine the otherwise peaceful atmosphere in the university. Professor Asabere Ameyaw appealed to all who desired to see quality in the country's educational system to help develop the large tract of land at the Kumasi campus of the University to expand its infrastructure.