Government is expected to begin the construction of 300-bed hostel blocks in all 45 Colleges of Education starting June 1, 2022.
According to the Education Ministry’s Spokesperson, Kwasi Kwarteng, this has become necessary due to the upgrade of the colleges into four-year Bachelor of Education degree-awarding institutions.
The construction of the three-storey blocks, estimated to cost ¢485 million, is being funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
The initiative is set to help accommodate the increased number of students and improve teaching and learning, Mr Kwarteng said in a Facebook post on Monday.
In an earlier interview with the media on Friday, the Sector Minister Dr Yaw Adutwum explained that 45 local contractors will be engaged to execute the projects.
He said they are expected to complete work in 15 months, adding that the blocks would be handed over to the colleges by August, 2023.
To ensure swift delivery of the initiative, the Minister said GTEC and GETFund are making necessary attempts to mobilise a loan of at least 10 per cent of the contract sum for each contractor.
Meanwhile, the construction works will create over 2,500 direct and indirect temporary jobs for the youth.
Principals of the Colleges of Education (PRINCOF) threatened to withdraw their services over accommodation challenges.
They warned of dire consequences for teacher training if urgent steps are not taken to address what they say is an infrastructure crisis.
PRINCOF blamed the situation on the increase in student admissions without corresponding upgrade in infrastructure, following the shift from diploma to degree-awarding institutions.
“With the three-year diploma, we were managing with just three core, and even with that, accommodation was a big problem. That is not adequate to prepare them for the kind of teachers we want to produce in the 21st century.
“Before implementing the four-year B. Ed programme, principals did advise the Ministry and the then Minister to tread cautiously. Our position was that government should defer the implementation from 2018 to 2019 so that some basic infrastructure will take care of the numbers that would come up in the years, but that advice was not worked on,” he noted.
Some believe the re-introduction of the trainee allowances has equally contributed to the high numbers of intake.
Founding President of policy think tank IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has advocated the scrap of the allowances in order to free up funds for infrastructure expansion in the colleges.
“Let people take loans and pay back. That is what we all did when we went to the university. I don’t see why I should be feeding grown up people wanting to be teachers and at the same time giving them money for attendance.
“I don’t think that is a good use of our money, either scrap or reorder the payment of these allowances through the private means,” Mr Cudjoe suggested.
This suggestion has been opposed by the Education Ministry.
Latest Stories
-
George Twum-Barimah-Adu pledges inclusive cabinet with Minority and Majority leaders
34 mins -
Labourer jailed 5 years for inflicting cutlass wounds on businessman
35 mins -
Parliament urged to fast-track passage of Road Traffic Amendment Bill
35 mins -
Mr Daniel Kofi Asante aka Electrician
36 mins -
Minerals Commission, Solidaridad unveils forum to tackle child labour in mining sector
41 mins -
Election 2024: Engagement with security services productive – NDC
43 mins -
Retain NPP for the good of Ghana – Rebecca Akufo-Addo
43 mins -
‘Let’s work together to improve sanitation, promote health outcome’ – Sector Minister urges
44 mins -
Ellembelle MP cuts sod for six-unit classroom block at Nkroful Agric SHS
47 mins -
‘I’ll beat the hell out of you if you misbehave on December 7’ – Achiase Commanding Officer
49 mins -
AFPNC leads the charge on World Prematurity Day 2024
55 mins -
Court remands unemployed man over theft of ECG property
1 hour -
Election security rests solely with the police – Central Regional Police Command
1 hour -
NCCE engages political youth activists at Kumbungu on tolerance
1 hour -
‘In Mahama’s era students lacked chalk, but are now receiving tablets’ – Bawumia
1 hour