Mrs Helena Mensah, Acting Director of Special Education Division of the Ghana Education Service, has said that education in the 21st century demanded a new paradigm shift which embraced diversity and promoted equality in the classroom.
She had consequently, tasked graduates of the Komenda College of Education to create an enabling environment for students to help them achieve their full potentials as they practiced their profession.
“The role of the teacher is undergoing transformation, it is no longer teachers being merely conveyor of knowledge but a facilitator, guide, and advocate for inclusivity’ she noted.
Speaking at the 14th congregation of the Komenda College of Education at Komenda, she explained that the traditional model of education, which segregated learners based on their abilities or backgrounds was no longer adequate.
The congregation was on the theme: “Inclusive Education: The New Paradigm for the 21st Century Pre-Senior High School Graduate Teacher”.
She asked teachers to adopt the new strategies in inclusive education to make lasting impact in the lives of learners for them to contribute to society, valuing diversity, and equity among all.
Moreover, she said that the graduates embracing inclusivity meant they were helping to break down barriers, reduce stigma and create a world where every child had the opportunity to succeed.
She urged them to become teachers who saw the potential in every child and created classrooms of belongingness, not just for wholesale learning for all students but nurturing careers, regardless of one’s ability.
Very Revered Professor Kwesi Nkum Wilson, Principal of the College, stated that “Our graduates are the touch bearers of the new paradigm, they have been equipped with the knowledge, skills and values needed to foster inclusive environment.
“They are ready to lead by example, inspire the students and make positive impact in their communities,” he added
The College graduated a total of 429 students with 55 of them obtaining first class honours, 278 second class upper and 92, having second class lower with four securing a pass.
Mr Moses Coleman was adjudged the overall best graduating student with grade point 3.82 and received a laptop, GHC1,000 and a certificate as his award.
Very Rev Prof Wilson encouraged the students to embrace challenges and opportunities they may encounter on the field with confidence and determination.
He reminded them that inclusive education was not just a concept but a practice that continued to champion a career path.
He further explained that Inclusive education was a commitment to ensuring that all students regardless of their abilities, had access to quality education which reflected the college’s implementation of a compulsory sign language course for all first-year students over the past three years.
He noted that despite the numerous successes achieved by the College, it was faced with challenges such as infrastructure, huge electricity bills, curriculum realignment and feeding grants which affected teaching and learning and appealed for support.
The Komenda College of Education was established on the premises of the barracks at Komenda left by the Fleet Air of the British Navy after the Second World War.
It was leased through the efforts of one Abraham Brew Sam, and the then regent of the town, Nana Komeh Ababio to the Methodist Church in 1947 to be used as a Methodist Teacher Training College.
On March 11, 1948, the first batch of 40 students were enrolled to begin a two-year Teachers Certificate “B” programme.
The Government of Ghana later renovated the buildings to make them more conducive for academic work.
The valedictorian, Mr Coleman, encouraged his colleagues to embrace the new paradigm and contribute to inclusive education.
He advised that they put their all in their endeavour to achieve higher and greater feats in the coming years for posterity.
GNA