GHANA EDUCATION NEWS: 4 Reasons why Attending College of Education is Better than University to become a Teacher
If you are planning to become a professionally trained teacher, it would be useful to read this article on whether College of Education is Better than University to Become a Teacher. This article will help you discover the 4 key reasons why attending a College of Education is worth the time and effort than running to the university only to complete and be stressed and frustrated.
As far as becoming a professional teacher is concerned, SHS graduates can opt to go to the universities like the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the University of Education Winnebe (UEW). However, many teachers in the trade will tell you that passing through the Colleges of Education is the best and there are reasons for that.
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The prestige of attending a university and obtaining a teacher’s degree is losing prominence among those who intend to go into teaching and to have a higher chance of gaining a job after school. It is becoming a bad choice for many university-trained graduate teachers and if you intend to be a teacher, it is important that you take time to measure the benefits of going through the College of Education instead of the University.
10 Reasons Attending College of Education is Better than University
Teachers are employed by the Ghana Education Service after completion of the training. Thus when they are through with national service and passed the teacher licensure examination.
Attending a College of Education can better position you for the same qualification given by the university.
Below are the factors to support the school of thought and help you make an informed choice.
#1 Colleges of Education offer degree programmes
Today, the 42 Colleges of Education offer Bachelor Degrees in Education. The degrees for various programmes are the same as those offered by their university counterparts.
These colleges are also affiliated to universities. This ensures the tertiary level requirements are met for the award of 1st degrees to students instead of a diploma.
#2 Job security for CoE trained teachers
After students in the colleges and their counterparts in the universities have completed their programmes, those from colleges have a higher chance of being employed by the GES.
Thus, there is more job security for them whiles the university-trained teacher does not have any hope of being employed. Their chances are very slim. The GES simply prefers CoE trained teachers to those who study the same programmes in universities.
#3 CoE students receive the government allowance, University students do not
Teacher trainees enjoy government allowance while in school. This fund cushions them while they are in school learning.
However, those in universities will have to secure a loan from SSNIT. This is to be paid back later in life with interest accrued.
Thus students who study education-related programmes in universities may accumulate debt after school. The teacher trainees allowance was reintroduced by the Nana Addo led government and this provides financial resources to CoE students during their study.
#4 National Service to acquire hands-on job skills
Today, graduates from the Colleges of Education take part in the compulsory national service. Thus they acquire additional practical skills and experience to make them ready for the job.
Apart from the prestige of attending a university to acquire an education-related certificate, teachers trained in universities cannot boast of being better than their counterparts. You already know the struggles teachers trained in the universities go through to get employed by the Ghana Education Service.
Conclusion
If you are thinking of enrolling as a student to become a professional teacher in the future, you have to take the right decision.
Others are suffering today because they went to the university after SHS to study for their education-related degree.
The challenge is that the GES and MoE prefer College Trained teachers to those who received their education in universities.
The government seems not to recognize their presence, and they are stressed up.
Teachers who receive their professional training in the colleges can after two or three years of teaching apply for study leave. Once granted they can study on leave with pay at the university to obtain a degree. Today, all 46 Colleges of Education offer degree programmes just as universities. In fact, attending a College of Education provides the best option to get employed in the Ghana Education Service.
The choice is yours, be strategic in thinking, make the right choice. Let the challenges of teachers trained in the universities serve as your caution and step out into a College of Education to increase your job prospects with the Ghana Education Service.
Source: Ghanaeducation.org
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