For years, students and tutors at Atebubu College of Education in Ghana's Bono East Region have endured a gruelling schedule of lectures from 6am to 9pm due to a chronic shortage of classroom space. The college's Vice Principal, Dr Daniel Ashong, attributed the exhausting arrangement to a lack of infrastructure, stating that it has left staff and students with no option but to spread lectures across nearly the entire day. This has been a longstanding issue at the 60-year-old teacher training institution.
Established in October 1965, Atebubu College of Education was the first second-cycle institution and the only training college in the eastern corridor of what was then the Brong-Ahafo Region. Today, the college runs a four-year Bachelor of Education degree programme, producing teachers who staff basic schools across Ghana. Despite its legacy, the college has struggled with an infrastructure deficit that has worsened as student numbers grew, leaving facilities stretched beyond capacity.
The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has approved a package of infrastructure projects for Atebubu College of Education to alleviate the congestion. The projects include a new lecture hall, an accommodation facility for staff and students, and the tarring of campus roads. This development promises relief for students and tutors who have endured the punishing timetable for years.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Atebubu, Masaudu Thomas Ayaaba, welcomed the investment, describing it as a way to restore the college's pride and boost enrolment. He commended the government for prioritizing education infrastructure in the municipality. The contractor handling the project has mobilized sufficient resources to keep the work ahead of schedule.
The new facilities are expected to enable a return to more reasonable lecture hours, better rest, and improved concentration in class for students and tutors. A modern campus could also make the college more attractive to prospective teacher trainees, addressing Ghana's need for qualified teachers in basic schools nationwide.
The intervention at Atebubu College of Education is part of a broader effort to address infrastructure challenges in Ghana's education sector. The Education Ministry has proposed setting aside 2% of GETFund resources annually as a disaster emergency reserve for schools. A new teacher training college is also being built in nearby Tuobodom to ease a shortage of training college space in the Bono East Region.
The contractor is currently ahead of schedule on the Atebubu College projects, but no specific completion date has been disclosed. Once completed, the new lecture hall, accommodation facility, and campus roads are expected to significantly improve the learning environment for students and staff at Atebubu College of Education.
Key points
- GETFund approves infrastructure package for Atebubu College of Education
- New facilities to ease congestion and improve learning environment
- Part of broader effort to address education infrastructure challenges in Ghana
