St Vincent College of Education appeals for more facilities

The Principal of St Vincent College of Education, Yendi, Dr Erasmus Kormla Norviewu-Mortty, has appealed to the government to provide the college with more facilities.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the fourth cohort of the college’s Bachelor of Education (B.ED) programme in Yendi, he said improving infrastructural development would not only help increase enrolment but also facilitate effective teaching and learning.

Due to limited facilities, the principal said some lecture halls had been partitioned into offices and laboratories while the only staff bungalow built with Internally Generated Funds (IGF) of the college had been converted into offices and a counselling centre.

The principal said the college’s GETFUND and Ministry of Education projects had been stalled, either due to the failure of contractors to return to the site or payments not being made.

Dr Norviewu-Mortty added that some of the school’s infrastructure projects, such as a lecture block that had been converted into an administrative block and a girls' hostel, were all realised through donations and support from partners like the Catholic Mission, Australia.

The event, which saw 199 students graduating from the B.ED programme, was on the theme: “The role of the teacher in a disadvantaged rural school: The St Vincent model.”

The Overall Best Graduate Award was received by Nimako Oforiwaah Benedieta, who was presented with GH¢3,000.

The other award winners were Agyei Raymond - Second Class Upper Division (Primary Education) and Muniru Sakinatu - Second Class Upper Division (Early Grade Education).

The Member of Parliament for Yendi, Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama, donated GH¢5,000 to the award graduates.

He assured the management of the college that the road leading to the school would be asphalted, adding that he would also support the installation of streetlights on the campus.

The MP urged the graduates to accept postings to disadvantaged communities to help mentor deprived children in those areas.

Role of teachers

The Catholic Bishop of the Yendi Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Yitiereh, charged the management of the school to reflect on their role in the upbringing and training of the students.

He said the role of a teacher, especially in a disadvantaged rural school, is to nurture and train children to become good stewards for God, the church and the nation.

The Bishop said the Catholic Church believes in quality education, hence its continuous investment and involvement in the educational sector of the country.

He further said that education should inculcate in a child the knowledge of God, moral character and discipline, personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness.