Colleges

Colleges of Education to begin ‘Blended Learning System’ from 2020/21 Academic Year

25th December 2020

Colleges of Education in Ghana shall from the 2020/21 Academic year begin a learning system known as the ‘Blended Learning System’.

The ‘Blended Learning System’ which is a style of education in which students learn via electronic and online media as well as traditional face-to-face teaching shall be introduced to the Colleges of Education to be able to cater for the high enrolment for the 2020/21 Academic year.

In a discussion on Summer Radio on Saturday, December 19, 2020 in Accra, the General Secretary of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), Nathan Ohene Gyan told the host, Ellis Ferdinand, that the Colleges have no option than to introduce the blending learning system with regards to the increasing enrolment for the 2020/21 academic year.

How the Blending Learning System shall be Implemented

Nathan clarified, that the Colleges currently have three cohorts of students, that is Level 100, 200 and 300 students.

Level 100 Students

He added, that the level 100 students shall have a full face to face lecture with any interruption. This he added, that the blended learning shall not affect the level 100 students.

Level 200 and 300 Students

Nathan indicated, that the blended learning system shall affect both level 200 and 300 students.

He said, both cohorts shall spend 6 weeks each on-campus and online.

Nathan said while one cohort teams up with the level 100 students to stay on campus, the other cohort shall be studying online for the 6-week interval.

He said, level 200 students shall stay on campus with the level 100 students for their face-to-face lessons whilst the level 300 students study online.

The level 200 students shall also go for the online lectures whilst their seniors, the level 300 students join the level 100 students on campus for their 6-weeks face-to-face lectures.

Off-Campus Teaching Practice

Speaking on off-campus teaching practice for the final year students, Nathan indicated, that the new 4-year Bachelor of Education Programme ds does allow for the off-campus teaching practice.

He said instead of the one-year off-campus teaching practice, students are supposed to do a one-day School Teaching Support (STS) while on campus.

He added, that students are supposed to do 6 weeks School Teaching Support (STS) as part of their 4-year Bachelor of Education Programme.

Nathan said, within every week, students are supposed to do a one-day STS which begins from level 100 to level 400 as part of their 4-year STS programme.

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How the School Teaching Support (STS) is done

According to Nathan, whilst the students are on campus, they shall be allowed to do a one-day STS at any school that has been identified with the STS programme.

He said according to the STS programme, students must visit the schools every week to have an interaction with the teachers and students and also meet with their supervisors to discuss observations including challenges and recommendations, and put their findings into a journal.

He said, at the end of the semester, the students shall be made to submit their STS Journal for assessment.

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Future for Teacher Education in Ghana

.Speaking on the future of Teacher Education in Ghana, Nathan said the introduction of the 4-year Bachelor of Education Programme into College of Education has given a lifeline to Teacher Education.

He added, that College Education has become very lucrative and has had a higher intake in the 2020/21 academic year.

He also added, that College of Education Teachers have also been given the opportunity to upgrade themselves to meet the high demands for their services.