Introduction

The Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education, Ghana (PRINCOF) was founded in January 1958 as a collective body representing Principals of Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) now Colleges of Education (COEs) that existed across the country. The founding members of PRINCOF were 25 visionary Principals of the then-existing Teacher Training Colleges in Ghana, who recognized the need for a unified platform for leadership of the Colleges of Education to address issues related to teacher education in the country.

Membership and Leadership

PRINCOF has a current membership of 46, made up of Principals of the 46 public Colleges of Education in Ghana.

The leadership structure of PRINCOF consists of the core Executive Members, the National Executive Committee (made up of the core executive members and zonal chairpersons) and the Zonal Executive Members. The current leadership team is headed by its National President, Prof. Samuel Awinkene Atintono who is also the Principal of Accra College of Education.

Objectives

In line with the common mandate of the Colleges of Education in Ghana, the key objective of PRINCOF is to promote the training of quality teachers for the basic schools in Ghana. In furtherance of this objective, PRINCOF pursues effective management of the Colleges of Education in collaboration with relevant government agencies and institution including the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the National Teaching Council (NTC), the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), the affiliate universities of the Colleges of Education  and other stakeholders to ensure quality academic and professional training of teachers.

PRINCOF has also put in place a common admission platform for all applicants seeking admission into the various Colleges of Education in the country. Today, the PRINCOF continues to promote quality teacher education and works to collectively address shared challenges encountered in Colleges of Education across Ghana.

Milestones and Achievements

Over the years, PRINCOF has achieved significant milestones. Under the leadership and guidance of PRINCOF, the Colleges of Education have successfully offered the following programmes over the years: 2-Year Teacher’s Certificate ‘B’ ; 2-Year Post ‘B’ Certificate ‘A’ ;, 4-Year Teacher’s Certificate ‘A’, ; 2-Year Post-Secondary Teacher’s Certificate ‘A’; Specialist, “Modular’, 3-Year Post-Secondary Teacher’s Certificate ‘A’; 3-Year Diploma in Basic Education and currently the 4-Year B.Ed programme.

PRINCOF also worked with the Ministry of Education, GTEC and the mentor universities to upgrade the Teacher Training Colleges to tertiary level as Colleges of Education in 2012 with the passing of Act 2012 (Act 847) by Parliament. By October 2018 the Colleges of Education implemented the 4-year Bachelor of Education with specialization in three areas (Earlygrade, Primary and Junior High School).

Over the years, PRINCOF has also collaborated with stakeholders like Transforming Teacher Education and Learning (T-TEL), GTEC, and the mentor universities to organize capacity building workshops, seminars, conferences and professional development sessions (PDL) for the management and staff of the Colleges of Education to enhance their capacity to deliver the new B.Ed. curriculum for the training of outstanding teachers for the basic schools in Ghana.

These events provided opportunities for knowledge exchange, professional development, and discussions on key issues affecting the Colleges of Education. PRINCOF has also spearheaded discussions on policy development and remains committed to the implementation of government’s educational policies and programmes aimed at transforming the teacher education landscape.

Thus, from a humble beginning, PRINCOF has become one of the major professional bodies in education providing policy advice to the government on teacher education and implementing government policies over the sixty-five years of its existence.

Collaborations and Partnerships

PRINCOF fosters collaborations and partnerships with government bodies such as the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), the National Teaching Council and the various mentor universities of the Colleges of Education as well as non-governmental organizations, and international institutions to enhance the impact of its initiatives. These collaborations aim to address challenges such as infrastructure development, curriculum enhancement, staff welfare and teacher capacity building.

Challenges and Resilience

PRINCOF faces challenges such as funding constraints, inadequate infrastructure and resources in the colleges, frequent policy changes, and educational reforms. However, Conference continues to demonstrate resilience by adopting strategic and innovative solutions such as stakeholder engagements to address these challenges and working towards sustainable solutions.

Current Status and Future Directions

Today, PRINCOF continues to play a crucial role in shaping the landscape of teacher education in Ghana. With its motto of Education for Service, the Conference remains committed to its mission of promoting excellence in teacher training and contributing to the overall improvement of the education sector.

Contact

The Executive Secretary
PRINCOF Secretariat
P.O. Box MB 47
Ministries Post Office
Accra.
Mobile: +233(0)554832453/+233(0)5009420

Email 1: princof.sec@outlook.com

Email 2: princof@coeresourceshub.org