The Principal of St. John Bosco’s College of Education, Professor Clement Ayarebilla Ali, has appealed to the government and key stakeholders to urgently intervene in the college’s infrastructure challenges to safeguard teaching and learning.
He made the call at the 14th congregation ceremony of the College in Navrongo, which also marked 96 years of the establishment of the institution.
Professor Ali said accommodation for both staff and students had become a major concern, noting that some lecturers were still occupying bungalows built as far back as 1946, which were no longer fit for purpose.
“Our female student population is increasing rapidly, but most of the facilities were not designed for accommodation. We are converting classrooms and old blocks into hostels under very difficult conditions,” he stated.
He added that student enrolment pressures were compounding the situation, as the College currently had 581 graduating students, despite government approval for only 400 admissions, a gap he warned could negatively affect the institution’s finances and operations.
The Principal also underscored the urgent need for additional staff infrastructure, including offices and staff housing, to support academic delivery, stressing that inadequate facilities were affecting staff morale and productivity.
Professor Ali acknowledged recent government support, including the provision of a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, the construction of a modern auditorium awaiting commissioning, a new public toilet facility, and progress on a 300-metre perimeter wall.
He also commended the Navro-Pio, Pe Denis Aneakwoa Balinia Adda Asagpare II, the Paramount Chief of the Navrongo Traditional Area, for helping to resolve a land dispute that had lingered for more than 50 years.
Despite these gains, he said more investment was required to address ageing infrastructure, expand hostels, and improve staff accommodation to match the College’s growing population and evolving mandate in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teacher education.
He called on the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and other partners to prioritise infrastructure funding for Colleges of Education, warning that neglect could undermine efforts to improve teacher training in the country.
St. John Bosco’s College of Education, established in 1930, has transitioned through several phases to become a key teacher training institution in Northern Ghana.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, acknowledged the urgent financial and infrastructure needs of Colleges of Education across the country and assured them of the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges.
He disclosed that the government would seek seed funding from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to provide immediate support, while final work was ongoing on a new funding formula for 2026.
Mr IMr Iddrisu said he would work to ensure that about GH₵500 million was allocated in the 2027 funding formula, dedicated solely to Colleges of Education, to guarantee that each institution received a minimum of GH₵10 million in capital funding to address critical infrastructure needs.
