TAMALE TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGE GETS NEW BOARD (PAGE 11)

Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale

A new board of governors for the Tamale Teacher Training College (TATCO) has been sworn in to re-direct the focus of the college now that it is offering diploma programmes.
The 13-member board is under the chairmanship of the deputy Tamale Metropolitan Director of Education, Alhaji Mohammed Haroon Kambodia.
Currently the college, which has been accredited by the National Accreditation Board (NAB), runs Diploma courses in Basic Education which began four years ago, the Untrained Teachers Diploma in Basic Education (UTTDBE) and sandwich programmes for Certificate ‘’A’’ Teachers.
In all, the regular students are 827 and UTTDBE 1,300 while 952 students are offering the sandwich course.
According to the Principal of the College, Alhaji Chief Gushie-Na Yakubu Bukari, the college was now over-stretched, following the high number of students undertaking the various programmes.
He, however, commended the tutors for their hard work and commitment, which, he said, was yielding the necessary results. For instance the principal disclosed that the pioneer regular diploma students attained almost 100 per cent pass in their final examinations.
Alhaji Yakubu meanwhile mentioned inadequate hostel facilities, particularly for female students and tutors, as some of the challenges they were facing in the discharge of their duties.
He, however, expressed appreciation to the government for the support received so far in the areas of transportation and the construction of a laboratory, library and some classroom blocks.
‘‘From our internally generated funds we have also put up additional structures such as a computer laboratory and also renovated some buildings,’’ the principal added.
Alhaji Yakubu said his outfit also intended to fence the college and tar the compound to protect it from burglary, and the equipment from dust, saying, ‘‘even though we would begin the project on our own, we appeal to the government for additional support to complete it on time.’’
For his part, Alhaji Kambodia thanked his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him and pledged his determination to use his thre-year mandate to turn the fortunes of the college around.
‘‘Together with the rich experience of my colleagues, we hope to support the college to attain its quest for academic excellence,’’ he intimated.