About Accra College Of Education ACCE
About Accra College Of Education – see details below:
HISTORY
The ACCE, originally known as the Accra Teacher Training College has passed through three phases in its existence. It has assumed different names, ran different teacher-training programmes and occupied different sites at various stages.
It existed during the colonial period and post independent Ghana till its present tertiary status.
TEACHER EDUCATION IN THE COLONIAL ERA
The colonial government first established teacher education when it opened Accra Teacher Training College on 8th September, 1909. The policy was to certify teachers in schools in the Gold Coast.
The College called ‘Government Training College’ was initially located in the present day- Metro Education Office, Kinbu, Accra. The College was opened with twenty –four (24) students headed by Mr. W. H. Baker as the first Principal.
Most of the first batches of students for the College had already done considerable amount of teaching particularly in the various mission schools.
The birth of the College made it possible for students from all parts of the country to settle under one roof at Accra as members of one Nation, and each batch of students left the college with a true sense of comradeship and brotherly affection. This brotherly love strongly bound together teachers of different tribes and creeds in all parts of Gold Coast.
The College had in its curriculum a course christened “Hand and Eye Training” later known as “Art and Crafts”. Through this, the College laid the foundation for studies in the Ghanaian african culture.
Schoolmasters from both the Government and all Missions including the Basel and the Bremen Missions came to this State Teacher Training Centre for a year’s course in “Hand and Eye training and in Carpentry”
It was in this College that the students first learnt of Physical Training, Cantata, and Games, etc as the teaching of these were then unknown in the country. Students were taught to appreciate these subjects. Football was quite a physical game and they quickly learned to play it. The colonial education also included Agriculture with emphasis on botanical studies.
Character training formed the basis of all work done in the College and great emphasis was laid on industry, honesty, honour and self respect. The objective was to turn out teachers who would help to produce citizens worthy of their beloved country.
TEACHER EDUCATION IN THE POST INDEPENDENCE ERA
The present Accra College of Education formerly Accra Training College was opened on 15th November, 1962 as a replacement for the old 1909 Government Training College but housed in a private building in Accra New Town (Kokomlemle)
It was started as a day Teacher Training College and had nineteen (19) students and a teaching a staff strength of eight. This marked a new shift in government policy on teacher education. The four year teacher training was to train teachers to handle subjects in primary and middle school. Notable among the first staff members were Rev. Kojo Haizel and Mr. R. N. Gberbie both of whom subsequently became Principals. The first principal of the College was the late Mr. L. B. Ama Hesse.
Two building at separate locations at Kokomlemle were acquired as Hostels for the students, one for the male and the other for female students. For inexplicable reasons, the female hostel was closed down very early while that for the male continued to house the students till 1988 when its owner retrieved it from the College.
The four-year programme was followed by a three-year post secondary programme in the 1975/76 academic year when the government decided that secondary school education should form the basis for entry into the teacher training programme. (The four-year training programme was re-introduced in the1980s).
In 1974, under an Executive Instrument (E.I.72 of 1962, 8th June, 1974 state land Act. 125) a permanent site was acquired for the College at Mempeasem in East Legon.
The College was moved from the old site at Accra New Town (Kokomlemle) to the new site, present location on 10th January 1985, during the tenure of Mr. R. N. Gberbie as Principal.
The Teacher Training Colleges were classified into two groups in 1987 under the New Educational Reform Programme. Accra Teacher Training College was classified under Group One Colleges to offer Science, Mathematics, Agriculture and Technical Drawing.
The courses were offered on day-release basis. The stringent qualification requirements for students to pursue the Group One subjects made enrollment in the College poor. Realizing the unfavourable situation that the classification category had created, the College authorities opted to be placed in the Group Two category. The Group One programme was therefore phased out in 1992. The equipment for the Technical Skills was later transferred to Ada Training College, the sister College in the Greater Accra Region.
The College remained the only Day Teacher Training College Institution in Ghana, until the year 2001 when it gained its boarding status under the tenure of office of Mr. Abubakar Wallace as Principal of the College.
The boarding facilities were provided through the assistance of a grant from the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) and consisted of:
Three one-storey buildings, one for female and two for the male students
A kitchen and Dining Hall block
Two bedroom semi-detached bungalows for staff accommodation.
The College runs a three-year IN-IN-OUT Programme which began in the year 2001. This consists of a two year on-campus academic work and one year out of campus internship practical teaching in Basic Schools.
TERTIARY EDUCATION PHASE
Following the Colleges of Education Act 2012, (Act 847) all Colleges may award diploma in Basic Education as they have now been raised to tertiary status. The College grades its products for the award of Diploma in Basic Education. The College is now governed by a sixteen member substantive Council chaired by Mr. Victor Okwei Nortey.
At the management level, the College is governed by a six-member Senior Management team headed by the Principal, Mrs. Christina Bampo Henaku. The other Senior Management positions are the Vice Principal, the College Secretary, College Librarian, College Finance Officer and the College Internal Auditor most of whom are in acting capacity.
The College runs General programme and has six academic departments. They are:
- Languages
- Mathematics and ICT
- Science
- Education and Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Vocational Skills
The College is affiliated to the Institute of Education, University of Cape Coast.
MISSION
To train and orient competent professional teachers of high caliber for basic schools in Ghana and beyond through quality teaching and learning, research and application of modern technologies.
VISION
ACCE is committed to be the ultimate centre of excellence for quality teacher education in Ghana.
VALUES
Academic excellence and Professionalism
We will promote and adhere to the highest standards in teacher education. Promote ethical, moral and responsible behavoiur of all members of the College community.
Effectiveness and Efficiency
- We will approach our work with utmost commitment and dedication
- We will ensure judicious use of resources to ensure value for money
- We will respond to issues concerning students, staff and other stakeholders in a timely and expeditious manner
- Equality of access to all opportunities and services
- Access to persons who are physically challenged.
Quality Service
We will provide excellent services to produce the best outcomes in teacher education, especially in the following focal areas:
- Teaching and learning
- Community relations
- Applied research
Team Work
We will support each other to produce the best result
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