St. Francis College of Education graduates 528 student teachers with 112 first class honours

St. Francis College of Education, Hohoe, has held its 17th Congregation Ceremony, graduating the third batch of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree students in a colourful event that highlighted both academic excellence and the future of teacher education.

The ceremony, themed “Architects of the Future: Positioning Teachers as Key Influencers in Shaping Society,” underscored the College’s commitment to producing competent, transformative educators capable of driving national development.

The college, which is affiliated with the University of Cape Coast (UCC), continues to align its training with modern educational standards.

Graduation Statistics

Of the 525 graduates, 112 attained First Class Honours, comprising 74 males and 38 females.

A further 333 obtained Second Class Upper Division, 74 secured Second Class Lower Division, and six earned a Third Class degree.

Notably, this batch recorded no passes or failures — a testament to the College’s rising academic standards and the commitment of its students and faculty.

Class	Total	Male	Female
First Class	112	74	38
Second Class Upper	333	179	154
Second Class Lower	74	41	33
Third Class	6	3	3

Principal’s Report

Presenting her report, the Principal of the College, Dr. Adwoa Kwagyiriba, praised the government for upgrading both teaching and non-teaching staff onto the university’s salary scale, a move she said had improved motivation and retention.

She revealed that nine lecturers had recently completed Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes, strengthening the institution’s academic capacity.

However, she lamented that the College continued to face serious logistical challenges, particularly in transportation.

“Although we continue to produce well-trained professional teachers, our biggest challenge remains the lack of a proper means of transport. We urgently need a bus to convey our students, especially during their practical attachments,” she appealed.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Teachers

Addressing the congregation on the theme, “Architects of the Future: Positioning Teachers as Key Influencers in Shaping Society,” the Guest Speaker, Professor Ben Quarshie Honyenuga, Vice-Chancellor of Ho Technical University, encouraged the graduates to embrace challenges with courage and vision.

“As architects of the future, you must shine wherever you are posted. Look for opportunities where others see difficulties, and ensure that every child who passes through your hands is moulded to contribute meaningfully to society,” he said.

Prof. Honyenuga urged the new teachers to view their profession as a calling, stressing the need to mentor, inspire, and design teaching approaches that respond to societal needs.

“The number of pupils and students who pass through a teacher’s hands cannot be quantified or repaid. Your influence goes beyond classrooms — it shapes the nation,” he added, while expressing concern over conduct among a few teachers that had diminished public respect for the profession.

Minister’s Message

In a message read on his behalf, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, congratulated the graduates and urged them to continually upgrade their skills and improve their working environments.

“Your graduation is not the end of your studies but the beginning of a lifelong journey of professional growth,” he advised.