Kumasi: The University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (USTED) has launched a special capacity-building programme to prepare its teaching staff ahead of the implementation of the new Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) Teacher Education programmes.
According to Ghana News Agency, the new B.Ed. programmes are updated versions of existing curricula, fully aligned with approved standards that serve as the national blueprint for preparing competent and reflective teachers. These programmes aim to prepare educators to deliver high-quality education in Ghanaian schools, in line with the national education reform agenda.
The guiding standards for these programmes include the National Teachers' Standards (NTS), the National Teacher Education Curriculum Framework (NTECF), and the National Teacher Education Assessment Policy (NTEAP). To strengthen institutional readiness and ensure effective delivery, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) collaborated with teacher education universities across the country to develop a set of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) support modules. These modules are aimed at equipping academic staff through the new capacity-building programme, which was launched at USTED on March 18, 2026.
Professor Frederick Kwaku Sarfo, Vice Chancellor of USTED, explained that the capacity-building programme is structured around ten critical thematic modules. These include National Teacher Education Policies, Translating B.Ed Curriculum for Outcome-Based Learning, Learner-Centred Pedagogy, Inclusive Pedagogy and Cross-Cutting Themes, as well as Digital Pedagogy and ICT Integration. Other areas cover Innovative Assessment Strategies in Higher Education, Emerging Content and Tools, Partnerships with Industry and Community, Mentorship and Supported Teaching in Schools (STS), and Student Support Systems and Services. He emphasized that these thematic areas address the evolving demands of 21st-century education and the need for teachers to possess strong subject knowledge along with pedagogical creativity, digital competence, inclusivity, and mentorship capacity.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education (MoE), GTEC, and the Transforming Teacher Education and Learning (T-TEL) for their commitment to strengthening teacher education in Ghana. He also commended the staff of USTED for their dedication in developing the B.Ed. programmes, capacity-building manuals, and implementation planning. Through these efforts, USTED now offers 29 new B.Ed. programmes being implemented with excellence.
Professor Eric Daniel Ananga, Technical Specialist and Advisor at T-TEL and NTECF, delivered the keynote address and stressed the importance of recalibrating teacher education programmes to align with the Competency-Based Curriculum in Senior High Schools. He encouraged participants to adopt proactive assessment regimes and active pedagogies, including learner-centred and inquiry-based teaching, to enhance programme design and implementation.
The official launch of the new Capacity-Building Programme was conducted by Prof. Dr. Isaac Abunyuwah, Principal of the Asante Mampong Campus of USTED. Prof. Francis Ohene Boateng, Dean of Student Affairs and lead facilitator, presented the training schedule and urged university staff to engage fully with the facilitation process to meet the demands and resources of the new programmes.