A three-member delegation from the Transforming Teacher Education and Learning (T-TEL), led by Mr. Robin Todd, has called on the University for Development Studies (UDS), to discuss possible collaborations in respect of their new initiative -Transforming Senior High School Education, Teaching and Learning (T- SHEL). The meeting, which took place on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at the Central Administration of the UDS, was chaired by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Ing. Prof. Felix K. Abagale.

UDS among four other Public Universities patterned (T-TEL) in implementing its flagship programme- the new B.Ed programme with a focus to transform the delivery of pre-service teacher education. Against this background, T-TEL called on UDS once again to present another initiative (T-SHEL) which seeks to complement the ongoing teacher education reforms.

Transforming Senior High School, Teaching and Learning (T-SHEL) aims is to achieve an extensive and sustainable transformation in the quality and relevance of Ghana’s senior high school (SHS) system. This transformation will reinforce the positive changes in access brought about through the introduction of the free SHS.

Mr. Todd, who gave an overview of T-SHEL indicated the timeliness of the initiative and expressed gratitude to UDS for welcoming them.  ‘We want to become a permanent feature of the Ghanaian Education landscape. Our aim in the next five years is to be recognized within Ghana as the best education technical assistance provider in the country” he opined. Mr. Todd noted that developing a framework in isolation from the people who need to implement it, would be detrimental to its success. He thus, hopes that, the consultations will lead to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between them and UDS in respect of T-SHEL.

On his part, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor applauded the initiative and on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, promised the University’s support for the initiative. He added that, ‘training for high school teachers to upgrade their skills is commendable”. He expressed confidence in the project for the reason that, the T-TEL had taken the initiative to consult with the Universities, who are their major stakeholders, before formulating the policy.

While noting that supervision was critical to ensuring its success, Prof. Abagale emphasized the need for the mentoring Universities to lead in that regard. He urged the Team to involve the Universities in respect of pairing the Senior High Schools to the mentoring Institutions to ensure equity and harness commitment from all parties.

The other members of the team from T-TEL were Madam Beryl Opong Agyei and Mr. Peter Chammik. On the UDS side were, Prof. Herbert Dei, Mr. George Debrie, Prof. Ebenezer Owusu-Sekyere, Alhaji Nurudeen Abubakar and other Senior Members of the Institute for Distance and Continuing Education and the Faculty of Education.