20th Anniversary Celebration of UEW Basic Education Department Launched

The Head of the Department, Mr. Nixon Saba Adzifome, in his opening remarks, indicated that the Department had excellently played its role in training competent teachers for basic schools in Ghana for the past 20 years.   

"The fact that we’re still standing on our feet shows that we have withstood the stress and strain of our mission as a department. We've chalked up successes in the face of real challenges, and, therefore, there is a need for us to celebrate our 20 years of existence by producing quality training for basic school teachers.

"There is a need for us to take a reflective look at what we have done for the past 20 years to inform and guide how we can proceed in the future," he averred.  

The HoD advocated for introspection into the underlying purpose of educating Ghanaian children as a starting point for helping in the development of methods for educating Ghanaian children, which would then be reflected in educational policy and teachers' instruction.

"It is in this light that we are continually strategising to find ways of contributing to national issues and showing how this nation should go so that we can produce teachers who can affect our children with positive learning outcomes. These children will be the recipients of the instruction that we directly deliver in the classroom to shape and prepare for the global market," he said.

The Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Prof. Samuel Asiedu-Addo, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mawutor Avoke, at the launch of the anniversary logo, recounted the genesis and success story of the Department.

“The Department of Basic Education has attained this feat as a result of the hard work and dedication of Management, pioneer faculty members, and students. Management pledges to do everything possible to support the growth trajectory of the Department,” Prof. Asiedu-Addo remarked.  

The Vice-Dean, Faculty of Educational Studies (FES), Dr. Yayra Dzakadzie chaired the occasion on behalf of the Dean of FES, Prof. Sakina Acquah.  He emphasised the importance of the teaching profession and the inherent obligation of professionals to share their knowledge with everyone, quite unlike other professionals.  

The Municipal Chief Executive of Awutu Senya East and an alumna of the Basic Education Department, Hon. Anita Amissah, asserted that she owes her current position in government to her experience as a teacher. She encouraged colleagues and trainee teachers to keep working hard to guarantee that the students entrusted to their care are well prepared and competitive globally in the present and future.

The Director of Schools and Instruction, Ghana Education Service (GES), Mrs. Patty Assan congratulated the Department on the feat attained in two decades.

"20 years of quality delivery of basic education training is no mean achievement. It is the expectation of the Education Service and the Government of the Republic of Ghana that the lecturers in this Department and the Management of this great institution will continue to work hard to advance on the laurels so far achieved by the Department and the University as a whole," she stated.

Mrs. Patty Assan continued to urge the Department and UEW to use their professional capabilities to produce teachers who can influence basic education delivery.

"As a strategic stakeholder in education, I request that you train teachers who are practical oriented to produce solutions to the many challenges basic education in Ghana is faced with. Let us all focus on the current trends and demands of our time to build our schools," she affirmed.

The Department of Basic Education has produced over 12,000 students over the years and because of its versatility, its students are found everywhere in the world across fields. As part of the 20th Anniversary celebration, there would a series of programmes such as public lectures, and joint international conferences among others.