By: Samuel Ayammeh
Construction work has formally started on a College of Education in Tuobodom, capital of the Techiman North District of the Bono East Region.
When the sod was cut, Techiman North MP, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, a lawyer, said this will help make quality education readily accessible for the people in the Western part of the region and other parts of the country.
There exists only one College of Education in the region located in Atebubu-Amantin.
The Techiman North MP said the Atebubu-Amantin College of Education alone is incapable of serving the recent growing interest of the populace in teacher training education due to capacity challenge. She said the establishment of the college fulfils a campaign promise to the people in the area.
She said; “geographically, the Bono East Region has two different cluster of districts, the Eastern Cluster made up of five districts with a total population of 361,731 and the Western Cluster made up of six districts with a total population of 607,418, the eastern cluster has the benefit of the Atebubu-Amantin College, therefore, the decision to have one established in Tuobodom, at the Western part of the region, is justifiable”.
From the 2020 population and housing census conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service, the total population of the Bono East Region is projected to be 1,133,768. Out of the number, 209,821 are within college going age range of 18-25 years.
The Techiman North District Director of Education, Madam Theresah Kpebu, believes timing is right. She said; “there would be no excuses from both parents and students about the unavailability of teacher training college in the western part of the region”.
The Catholic Bishop of the Techiman Diocese, Most Rev. Dominc Yeboah Nyarko, said the diocese is partnering the MP of the area to establish the college of education.
He appealed to parents to take keen interest in the education of their wards. The Catholic Bishop said parents who encourage their children to pursue education would help them be productive and independent after school so they could fend for themselves.
The Catholic Church provided land for the construction of the project. The school, with the name, St Dominic College of Education, Tuobodom, will be managed by the Catholic Church when completed.
The entire project will be financed by the MP and her partners.
Dignitaries at the event include the former MP for Techiman North, Dr. Ameyaw Kyeremeh, who is also the former Deputy Minister for Education, chiefs and queen mothers of the area.
