The Background of FES
FACULTY OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES (FES), KNUST
BACKGROUND
The Council of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi established the Faculty of Educational Studies (FES) in 2018 because of the teacher education reforms initiated by the Government of Ghana supported by DfID, UK. The KNUST formed a team of experts who became part of a national team that developed the New 4-year Bachelor of Education programme, with three specialisms (Early grade, Primary and Junior High School Education), for the Colleges of Education and Teacher Education Universities in Ghana. The Ministry of Education/National Council of Tertiary Education facilitated the affiliation of the 46 Colleges of Education in Ghana to five universities in Ghana as part of implementing the reform. Based on the above, the following colleges were affiliated to KNUST: Wesley College of Education, Kumasi, Akrokerri College of Education, St. Joseph’s College of Education, Bechem, Tamale College of Education and E. P. College of Education, Bimbilla.
HISTORY OF TEACHER EDUCATION IN KNUST
The Kumasi College of Technology which was established by a Government Ordinance on 6th October, 1951 was officially opened on 22nd January, 1952 with 200 Teacher Training students transferred from Achimota, to form the nucleus of the new College. As the College expanded, it was converted into a purely science and technology institution. In pursuit of this policy, the Teacher Training section, with the exception of the Art School, was transferred in January 1958, to the Winneba Advanced Teacher Training College.
The Art School, which later became Department of General Art Studies, and later Department of Art Education is now Department of Educational Innovations in Science and Technology (EIST), the first department under the Faculty.
THE WAYFORWARD
The KNUST with more than half a century of experience in science and technology education at the tertiary level in Ghana, sees this reform and partnership with the Colleges of Education as an opportunity to influence science and technology education in Ghana by venturing into the training of teachers for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the basic and secondary education sectors in Ghana. The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, through the Faculty of Educational Studies, is of the view that this is the only way to guarantee a steady flow of STEM graduates from the secondary to the tertiary level in Ghana. By this venture we seek to contribute significantly towards strengthening and up scaling STEM education from the basic level.
Ultimately, the vision of the Faculty of Educational Studies (FES) is to become a Centre of Excellence in STEM education in Africa. In achieving this the FES seeks to partner both local and international institutions, conduct cutting edge research that would result in the development of home-grown pedagogies and resources to enhance the teaching and learning of science, technology and mathematics across various levels of Ghana’s education system; and also train teachers who have the requisite competencies and are committed, inspirational and lifelong learners. Indeed, the FES sees this as a veritable and a great way to advance and disseminate knowledge in science and technology, leveraging on the capacity and reputation of the university.
The FES also serves as the fulcrum around which KNUST is building capacity of her faculty by organizing series of professional development workshops to equip them with more interactive and differentiated modes of facilitating learning and assessing students.
Currently, the Faculty of Educational Studies (FES), houses the Department of Educational Innovations in Science and Technology (DEIST), the Department of Teacher Education (DTE) and the Centre for Educational Research and Development. The DEIST has the following programmes running; Master of science and Master of Philosophy in Educational Innovation and Leadership Science; Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy in Art Education.
As part of the efforts to develop capacity of staff of affiliate Colleges of Education, the FES created the Department of Teacher Education to run the following MPhil/PhD/EdD programmes on regular and sandwich modes:
- Science Education
- Mathematics Education
- ICT Education
- Language and Literacy Education
- Educational Planning and Administration
- History Education
- Geography Education
- Religious Education
The Faculty admitted her first batch of students in September, 2019, to pursue the 4-year Bachelor of Education programme with a specialization in JHS Education majoring in mathematics, science and ICT Education, Agricultural Science, Geography, Social Studies and Visual Arts.
Recent innovations in science and technology have made the world more technology and innovation dependent thus requiring a skill set that would enable our younger generation function effectively. The KNUST has strategically positioned herself to partner both local and international organizations and institutions to deliver quality teacher education. Be assured that KNUST through the Faculty has the wherewithal to churn out teachers with 21st century skills who would function effectively in diverse teaching and learning contexts.
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
The KNUST has Prof. Winston Kwame Abroampa, as the Dean of the Faculty and Mrs. Mercy Vanessa Darkwa Appiah-Castel as the Registrar.
PROFILE OF THE DEAN
Winston Kwame Abroampa is a certified professional teacher. He was trained as a professional teacher in the prestigious Presbyterian Training College (PTC) now Presbyterian College of Education (PCE) at Akropong, after his high school education at Okuapemman School, Akropong-Akwapim. He is also an alumnus of the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast where he read his Bachelor of Education and masters degrees. Winston holds a Master of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies from UCC and a Ph.D. in Curriculum Development from the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. He has a rich experience in education and curriculum development, implementation and evaluation issues gathered from his over two decades of professional teaching and research across various levels of Ghana’s education system. He has been a visiting lecturer and advisor to some private universities in Ghana training teachers such as Valley View University. He has published in various scholarly journals and has presented papers at conferences. He has served on various national technical committees and was part of the technical committee for reforming teacher education curriculum. He is a member of the team of experts that developed the new 4-year Bachelor of Education programme for 46 Colleges of Education and Teacher Education universities in Ghana and is the lead for the pedagogy team developing courses and Professional Development manuals for tutors in Colleges of Education to facilitate the implementation of the curriculum.
He is also a member of the Technical Writing Group that developed the portfolio assessment guide for in-service teachers in Ghana and the emergency remote online learning and assessment framework for colleges of education in Ghana during the COVID-19 break. His areas of interest are in curriculum implementation and evaluation, monitoring concerns of curriculum implementers; social and emotional development of early childhood learners; developing creative and indigenous pedagogies among others. He is currently a member of the National Implementation Support Team (NIST) located within the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) in Ghana to monitor the implementation of the Bachelor of Education programme implemented by the 46 Colleges of Education and 5 public teacher education universities in Ghana.
PROFILE OF THE REGISTRAR
Mrs Appiah-Castel, a Senior Assistant Registrar at Dean's Office, Faculty of Educational Studies, holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from the University of Ghana (2002) and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Geography from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology(1999). She has a certificate of participation from the San Diego State University's Council of International Programs (CIP, January - May 2000)I have worked at KNUST since June 2004. Since being employed at KNUST I have worked at the Faculty of Law,(July-December,2004) Provost Office-College of Art and Social Sciences(January 2005 - November 2008), the International Programmes Office (IPO November 2008 - March 2015), May 2015 a certificate in University Adminstrative Practice from the School of Oriental Arts ( SOAS), London, General Administration (March 2015 - February 2022) and Dean's Office, Faculty of Educational Studies (February 2022 to date).
My areas of specialization are University Administrative Practice, General University Administration (Managment of Municipal SErvices, Transportation, Security etc.) and International Relations.
My research interest include Administrative and Professional Capacity Building, Community Impact Programmes and International Collaborations.
COLLLEGES OF EDUCATION AFFILIATED TO KNUST
