The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that Ghana’s public Colleges of Education are on track to attain autonomous status, marking a significant transformation in the country’s teacher education landscape.
The change is expected to take effect following the passage of a revised legislative framework, which is currently under Cabinet review.
Speaking at the inauguration of governing councils for seven Colleges of Education in Sunyani, the Minister emphasised that the transition to autonomy will be anchored in a new enabling Act, which the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) is developing in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Department.
The legislation is expected to be laid before Parliament during its next sitting.
Strengthening Governance and Institutional Development
According to the Minister, the Ministry has rolled out a series of strategic measures aimed at enhancing infrastructure, governance, and institutional capacity across the Colleges of Education.
The seven institutions whose councils were inaugurated include:
- McCoy College of Education
- Bagabaga College of Education
- Jahan College of Education
- Gambaga College of Education
- Tamale College of Education
- Atebubu College of Education
- EP Training College, Bimbilla
The Minister disclosed that Ghana now has 48 public Colleges of Education, all funded by the taxpayer.
This includes three newly added institutions: Savanna College of Education, Ghana Muslim Mission College in Beposo, and Christ the Teacher College in Nsoko.
He noted that GTEC has been directed to finalise their absorption into the public system.
Addressing Infrastructure Deficits
Haruna Iddrisu acknowledged the persistent challenge of inadequate hostel facilities across the colleges.
In 2023, the Ministry initiated the construction of 45 hostels across 46 Colleges of Education. However, only nine projects are nearing completion, while eleven are progressing steadily. Alarmingly, 25 projects have stalled.
To resolve the delays, he noted the Ministry has terminated contracts for all non-performing projects and will re-award them under revised terms.
A total of GHS 403 million has been earmarked through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to ensure timely completion and ease accommodation pressures.
Transition to University Status
The Minister reiterated that the Colleges of Education are undergoing a phased migration to full university status.
This transition will affect governance structures, staff conditions of service, and academic programming.
He urged governing councils to consult closely with GTEC before making major decisions, particularly on appointments and structural reforms.
With approximately 20 principals expected to retire or complete their terms in the coming year, the Minister called for a transparent and collaborative succession process, led by the respective councils in partnership with GTEC.
Vision for the Future
“Our goal is to strengthen the tertiary education sector and ensure our Colleges of Education are well-equipped to deliver high-quality teacher education for generations to come,” Haruna Iddrisu stated.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the colleges through this critical phase of transformation, emphasising that autonomy will empower institutions to expand academic offerings and improve operational efficiency.
Credit: 3newsGH
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