The Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, has officially commissioned a new 300-capacity student hostel at St Ambrose College of Education in Dormaa Akwamu, reiterating government’s resolve to enhance infrastructure and raise academic standards in teacher training institutions across the country.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, during the unveiling ceremony in the Bono Region on Tuesday, Dr Apaak described the project as a critical investment in student welfare, academic access, and national development.
He stressed that providing adequate on-campus housing directly relieves the financial and logistical burdens that often hinder students from fully participating in academic life.
“This is not merely the opening of a new building. It is an investment in student welfare, in access to education, and in the teachers who will shape Ghana’s future,” Dr Apaak declared to the gathering of traditional leaders, clergy, local officials, tutors, and students.
“Ghana’s development depends not only on its natural resources, but on the creativity, discipline and productive capacity of its people. Progress in agriculture, healthcare, industry, public administration and technology all rests on the quality of the education we provide.”
Addressing the broader mandate of teacher preparation, the Deputy Minister emphasised that modern classrooms require well-trained educators capable of building inclusive learning environments, mastering digital tools, and maintaining high moral standards.
He tasked the Governing Council and management of the college to translate the state’s infrastructure investment into tangible educational outcomes, while maintaining strict oversight of the facility.
“The quality of the teachers prepared here today will determine the quality of education our children receive tomorrow,” he stated. “The success of this hostel will not be measured by its appearance or its capacity. It will be measured by how well it serves students, how well it is maintained, and how much it contributes to their welfare and education.”
To safeguard the investment, Dr Apaak outlined crucial guidelines for the institution’s leadership, calling for transparent allocation policies, robust maintenance schedules, disciplined financial management, and robust safety measures to preserve the facility for future generations.
The ceremony also served as a platform for the Deputy Minister to issue a stern warning regarding campus discipline and the safety of teacher trainees, referencing outcomes from the recent National Conference on Stemming the Growing Indiscipline in Schools held in Sunyani. He firmly declared zero tolerance for misconduct, harassment, and abuse within educational institutions.
“Let me be clear: sexual abuse and harassment, whether by a person in authority or by a fellow student, have no place in our education system, and will not be tolerated. Victims must be listened to, protected and never blamed,” Dr Apaak stressed.
He urged college authorities to establish trusted reporting mechanisms and reminded trainees of their professional duties: “To our teacher trainees: you are being prepared to protect other people’s children. That duty begins with how you treat one another here.”
In his closing remarks, Dr Apaak expressed appreciation to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), local contractor and consultant teams, the Catholic Diocese of Sunyani, and the Dormaa Akwamu Traditional Council for their collective roles in bringing the project to fruition.
He urged the student body to take personal responsibility for the building by conserving resources, avoiding acts of vandalism, and remaining steadfast in their academic pursuits to serve the nation effectively.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana