Mrs Angelina Kutin-Tandoh, Principal of the Saint Teresa’s College of Education, on Saturday urged trainees to shirk the mentality of monetary self-aggrandizement as the basis for joining the teaching profession.

She reminded the students that the impartation of knowledge to pupils and students at the basic level formed the foundation of their training rather than pondering over how much to count financially which defeats the purpose of the profession.

Mrs Kutin-Tandoh said this at the Matriculation of 251 fresh students of the College of Education for the 2013/2014 Diploma in Basic Education at Hohoe.

She said a forthright mental fortitude and determination would carve a positive niche for the trainees towards the younger ones whose development and future progression depended on their psyche.

The Principal said academic excellence remained the greatest aspiration and mainstay of the college and urged the students to take up the challenge.

“Be disciplined, live at peace with one another and keep your environment clean,” she said.

Mr Prosper Coffie Addo, Vice Principal of the College, administering the Matriculation Declaration and Oath, reminded the students to diligently abide by the rules and regulations governing their admission, and uphold Christian values especially the ideals of truth and charity.

He urged them to avoid drunkenness, smoking, lesbianism, occultism and other social vices with tendencies to derail the purpose of admission.

Ms Safura Kabore, a fresher, expressed delight for gaining admission into the college and, on behalf of colleagues, pledged to maintain or improve the status quo and prayed for God’s protection to succeed in this enterprise.