Plans are far advanced for Government to turn five Private Colleges of Education (CoE) in the country into public institutions.

This is in line with its pledge to expand access to CoEs to increase teacher supply to basic schools.

Speaking at the inauguration of a 1,600-seating capacity auditorium for Our Lady of Apostle College of Education in Cape Coast, Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, Education Minister, said Government would soon commence the construction of three new CoEs, one to be located in the Central Region, by close of the year.

She said the five private Colleges are St Ambrose College of Education in Dormaa Akwamu and Al-Faruq Islamic College of Education in Wenchi, both of the Brong Ahafo Region; Bia Lamplighter College of Education in the Western Region, Gambaga College of Education in the East Mamprusi Municipality and St Vincent College of Education at Yendi, both in the Northern Region.

Work on the auditorium, funded through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) at a cost of GH? 627,162.25, began in September 2004 and was expected to be completed in 2006.

The delay was due to the lack of funds and alteration of plans due to the nature of the site and its proximity to the sea.

Prof Opoku Agyeman said Government is also implementing the four-year Transforming Teacher Education and Learning Programme at a cost of 17 million pounds to support teacher trainees.

She said the inauguration of the Council of CoE was to ensure that the students were trained to acquire the professional and academic competencies for teaching in pre-tertiary institutions and non-formal education institutions.

The Minister described the various interventions as an indication of Government’s commitment to the advancement of education in terms of quality and relevance.

He said Government would not relent in achieving its goal.

She urged authorities of educational institutions to prioritise projects so that they would be completed on time and urged the OLA CoE, to make judicious use of the facility.

Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, Central Regional Minister, expressed worry about the number of uncompleted GETFund projects in the region and urged the Ministry of Education to ensure that they are completed before new ones are started.

He urged teacher trainees to lead exemplary lives wherever they are posted to since society looked up to them not only for knowledge but on moral uprightness.

Rev Sister Elizabeth Amoako-Arhin, Principal of the OLA CoE, recounted how students assembled for school functions under trees and in open spaces at the mercy of the weather, prior to the completion of the auditorium.

She expressed gratitude to Government, saying the project is an indication of Government’s commitment to the promotion of teacher education.

She appealed to Government to complete the remaining projects being undertaken at the College.

Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, Paramount Chief of Oguaa, advised teacher trainees to take their studies seriously to effectively discharge their duties as teachers.