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Presbyterian College of Education marks 175 Years Anniversary

The Presbyterian College of Education (PCE) on Saturday 1st July, 2023 held a grand indoor durbar to climax a week-long celebration of 175 years anniversary under the theme “175 Years Of Holistic Education, Honouring Our Past, Celebrating The Present And Reshaping The Future”.

Date Created : 7/4/2023 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Samuel Y. Kumah/Ghanadistricts.com

The durbar eventually was the icing on the week-long activities that included an anniversary health walk, inter-hall debates, musical concerts, alumni games and sports events among many others.

The institution was established in 1848 and was initially named as the Scottish Mission Teacher Training College and later the Basel Mission Seminary.

However, in the recent past, it was referred to as the Presbyterian Training College (PTC) under the Ghana Education Service until recently being rebranded as the Presbyterian College of Education (PCE) due to its status as a degree awarding institution affiliated to the University of Education Winneba.

At the apex of the anniversary on Saturday 1st July, 2023 the institution received a high-powered government delegation led by the Senior advisor to the Presidency Nana Yaw Osafo Marfo, representation of traditional leaders led by Okuapemhene Oseadeeyor Kwasi Akuffo III and the past alumni groups gracing the occasion.

In his accepting remarks as the chairman of the occasion, the Rt. Rev Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante submitted that Akropong-Akuapem or the entire Okuapemman should be thankful to the institution because it has been hooked unto the world map as a result of Presbyterian College of Education.

He paid glorious tribute to nananom and all stakeholders who contributed in diverse way to the development of the institution. He said achieving 175 years is no mean achievement at all, and it is obvious that the school is the mother of all institutions in Ghana and the Sub-Saharan Africa inception of Fourah Bay College in Sierra-Leone.

Again, he commended the government for its role in the area of infrastructural development in the school and other Presbyterian campuses in the country, and like the proverbial Oliver Twist he asked for more by making some request.

He was of the opinion that since the institution is the first school established in the country, it only makes sense for it to be upgraded into a fully-fledged university. He pointed out that both regular and private universities around poach some of the tutors to lecture in their institutions.

He also pleaded with the government to have a second look at the remuneration of tutors of all colleges of education since they are now offering degree courses but still receive tutors salaries. He asked in fairness for the government to correct this anomaly and place them on equal pegging to that of university lecturers.

He extended his warm felicitation to the college and the entire Presbyterian fraternity for achieving this special feat and that PCE has a beautiful past, a strong heritage and a glorious future that has the tendency to contribute to the educational success of the country.

In his welcoming address the Principal of the institution Rev. Dr. Nicholas Apreh Siaw said he is overwhelmed and elated that it was during his stewardship that the institution celebrated its 175 anniversary. He gave plaudits to the early missionaries, all past and current tutors of the college. He also applauded all the alumni of the school and that they should not forget about their roots. He commended the Presbyterian Church and government concerning the various infrastructure supports it had extended to the institution.

In addition, he also touched on internal generated funds of the school, academic performance of the school was also extensively elaborated on. He again talked about exchange of academic programmes with the University of Virginia in the United States of America with the help of the Kronti Division of Akropong.

He summed up his speech by pointing out accommodation for tutors and transportation to convey students and tutors for their mentoring and monitoring programmes as the main setbacks of the school. He then called on all stakeholders as well as the government to come to the aid of the institution.

The President’s representative Yaw Osafo Marfo in his goodwill message paid glowing tribute to the school. He congratulated the institution for such a milestone. He refers to Presbyterian College of Education as indeed “the mothers of all institutions” in Ghana. He used the occasion to acknowledge all his teachers from basic to tertiary institutions. He was of the view that teachers are indeed the foundation of knowledge and civilization in society and this goes to amplify the importance as a stunner in teacher education.

He said the institution has trained a lot of renowned personalities in society such as the count of Ephraim Amu as one of its teaching staff, Joseph Edward Michael, Prof. Emeritus J.H Kwamena Nketia, and Chief Justice Nii Armah Olenu and countless alumni who have risen to the pinnacle of their chosen carrier abounds everywhere in this country.

He pointed out that Presbyterian institutions are noted for high levels of discipline and academic excellence and emphasized that education can never be mentioned in Ghana without making reference to PTC. It is therefore not a fluke that so many statesmen who excelled in life, graduated from the institution.

He buttressed the good moral values and training he had from the then Boys’ Boarding School at Swedru-Awisa with a slogan that came to his attention when he was in office as Minister of Education that “all professions can boast but the teacher taught them all”. He said he attached importance to the statement because a teacher taught him how to read and write and that all his teachers at Awisa boarding, all attended Presbyterian Training College.

He re-echo on the comment made by the Deputy Minister in charge of Tertiary Education in respect to the relationship between the GDP and teacher enrolment. He emphasizes that if this country wants a good and resounding economy then teacher education should be given a serious push.

He concluded by saying that listening carefully, he noted that one of the challenges of the institution is means of transport. He therefore promised to tout the President to provide a modern bus as a birthday gift to the school, he concluded. At the tail end of the programme, some deserving past teaching staff and non-teaching staff were awarded for their meritorious service to the institution.