Jackson College of Education (JCE), held its 10th Congregation where Diplomas in Basic Education were conferred on 2,266 students who had successfully gone through their programme modules in Early Grade, Upper Primary and French Education. This brings to a total of 16,601 highly trained and qualified teachers who have been produced by the College since its inception in 2009.

The graduation, which was held virtually on the theme; “Education 4.0: Transforming the Future of Distance Education through Emerging Technologies” had dignitaries such as Mrs Patricia Obo-Nai, Chief Executive Officer, Vodafone Ghana; Nana Dr. Appiagyei Dankawoso I, President-General of West Africa Nobles Forum (WANF); Oheneba Yaw Sarpong Siriboe I, Akyempemhene of Juaben Traditional Area; Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister for Education and Member of Parliament, Bosomtwe Constituency; Rev. Dr. J.W Acheampong
KNUST Protestant Chaplain; Mr. Anthony Gyasi-Fosu, Council Chairman of JEC and other council members of JEC in attendance. A section of the graduands from centres in Kumasi joined the ceremony at the JEC Head Office.
Amos Ansong Nyamekye, who was adjudged the overall best student was awarded for his exceptional performance among the graduating class at the ceremony. Delivering his valedictory speech, Amos Ansong Nyamekye expressed the shared sentiments of excitement and gratitude of the class of 2021 to the institution for providing them with an exceptional educational experience.

“We have also acquired the values of integrity, respect, stewardship, discipline and lifelong learning, which have led to the full realisation of our development as wholistic beings,” he added

He further urged the continuing students to strive to work hard and for them to take their academic work seriously while making the most of every good opportunity offered to them.

Mr Anthony Gyasi-Fosu, Chairman of the Council of the College, said 10 years of training highly qualified teachers in the country marked a significant milestone worth celebrating.

“For many of us, today is a celebration of a dream made possible, for others, it is the beginning of life. I am very proud of you students, faculty, staff and management,” he stated.

He urged the graduands to accept to teach wherever their services would be needed and make an impact on the lives of children that would be entrusted to them.

“We need you to shape the future of education, especially through the use of technology. We need you because the skills you have acquired will contribute
immensely to making our country eradicate illiteracy,” he told the students.

He said the College had deployed the blend of technology and other effective teaching methods to train highly motivated teachers ready to serve in any part of the country to impart knowledge.
The trend of technology, he said, was on the rise and for that matter, the graduating students should embrace technology as a tool to leapfrog the traditional way of teaching to modern teaching techniques.

Mr Gyasi-Fosu congratulated the graduating students for completing their courses and implored them to exhibit perseverance, hard work and discipline as ambassadors of JCE.

Mrs Theodosia Jackson, Principal of the College, said students were taken through a carefully structured, learner-oriented distance education programme in all the 30 learning centres across the country.
She said the College had always adhered to best practices in line with quality assurance measures put in place by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission and its affiliate institution, the University of Education, Winneba.

“While we celebrate your past academic activities and accomplishments today, I want to challenge you to continue with your quest for knowledge and discover your unique ways to contribute to our society,” she said.

She admonished them to uphold the philosophy of the College – taking up teaching roles in deprived and rural areas to push the agenda and spark the light of hope for a brighter future in the lives of underprivileged pupils.

Mrs Patricia Obo-Nai, Chief Executive Officer, Vodafone Ghana who was the guest speaker for the ceremony urged the graduating class to embrace a mindset of change when it comes to technology.  She further encouraged the graduands to be curious about the world outside their curriculum as educators.

“Take the initiative to learn what you need to know as you expose your students to emerging technologies that you have learnt about so your students can keep in step with the changing times”, she stated.

In his address, Hon. Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister for Education commended the College for producing highly trained teachers over the years to help in the development of the country and ensuring equity in the area of education more importantly in the remotest parts of the country by accepting postings to these parts.

Nana Dr Appiagyei Dankawoso I, President-General of West Africa Nobles Forum (WANF) and Oheneba Yaw Sarpong Siriboe I, Akyempemhene of Juaben Traditional Area in their respective speeches congratulated the graduands on their achievements and entreated them to make use of the knowledge and modern technological skills acquired to help improve the education system in Ghana.