135 UEW Students Benefit Maiden Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship Fund

Some of the beneficiaries in a group picture with the Scholarship Committee Members at the Winneba Campus

A total of 135 out of 452 applicants qualified for the maiden Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship Fund (VCSF) for brilliant but needy students.

The Scholarship Scheme was launched in 2016 to provide financial support to students of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), from low-income background to create an opportunity for them to have access to higher education.

The awards started on Friday 16^th March, 2018 where two students were honoured at the Ajumako campus during the Grand Durbar of the Maiden Cultural Week celebration. It proceeded to the College of Technology Education, Kumasi (COLTEK) from March 20-21, 2018 which saw 40 beneficiaries. On Thursday 22^nd March, 2018, 13 students received their awards at the Mampong campus whereas the Winneba campus recorded 80 beneficiaries on Monday 26^th and Tuesday 27^th March, 2018.

Prof. Asiedu-Addo, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee

During the Winneba session, the Chairman of the Scholarship Committee and Dean of the Faculty of Science Education, Prof. Asiedu-Addo advised beneficiaries to study hard to maintain their Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) or better it to keep enjoying the scholarship till completion. 

Addressing the beneficiaries shortly before the presentation in Kumasi, the newly appointed Acting Principal of COLTEK, Prof. Frederick Kwaku Sarfo encouraged them to see the award as the important beginnings of their greatness.

“You need to keep working very hard to justify this award. It would be unfortunate if you went to squander this money on things that would not have a direct bearing on your academics. Instead of buying mobile phones and call credit, use this money to buy books and your sustenance while on campus.” Prof. Sarfo admonished the awardees.

The Acting Principal congratulated them for going through the rigorous selection processes and hoped that the token would spur them on to study harder.

Each beneficiary received an amount of GHS 1,000.00 from the coffers of the University. They were among hundreds of the University’s students who applied to the fund during the 2016/2017 academic year.

A couple of years ago, Management of UEW came to the realisation that some brilliant students of the University were facing serious financial challenges that was impacting adversely on their academics. It therefore set up the VCSF, three years ago, as a way of helping out such students and also honouring its responsibility to society.

The scholarship is opened to all students of UEW but candidates must show proof of academic excellence and also indicate clearly that they are in financial difficulties to qualify for the support. Moreover, in order not for awardees to relax on their studies once they win the award, the scholarship has been designed such that they would have to show proof of consistent academic excellence every year in order for the scholarship to be renewed.

Source: Godlove KB Tetteh and COLTEK Media

“Performing Arts is the Face of Every Nation” – PATAG President

Mr. Edu, PATAG President

The President of the Performing Arts Teachers Association of Ghana (PATAG), Mr. Johnson Edu has called on the government and stakeholders to invest in Performing Arts to aid national growth.  

He said Michael Jackson became a hit in the US because America considered Performing Arts as the face of the nation. He added that “let us create a course that will be enviable to the whole nation since our field is the face of every nation”.

Mr. Edu said this on Wednesday 21^st March, 2018 during a workshop for teachers handling subjects under Performing Arts at the Central Campus of the University of Education, Winneba.  

He revealed that the workshop was to retool the whole National Educational Curriculum Framework system, make government know the role of Performing Arts and let individuals know PATAG’s contributions to the new policy framework. He said “We need to identify creative ways of doing things; that is the teaching and learning of Performing Arts, Music and Dance Theatre and even the Visual Arts”.  

The President of PATAG pointed out that the workshop was also to have basic ideas of understanding children, students and learners as far as their inclinations or psychological beliefs were concerned adding, “if we get to know their temperamental traits then we can better place them within their learning scope”.

He however called on all members to nurture students and also come out with laudable ideas that could be incorporated into the new policy framework. He said “you and I would have to contribute to that. We need not to sit down for some group of consultative members to put together the whole idea, release it and you cannot even work with it. But if you have a part to play in this whole national creed then you can push it with confidence, hope, passion and dedication”.

Dr. deGraft Yankson, Dean, School of Creative Arts

The Dean of School of Creative Arts, Dr. Patrique deGraft Yankson who gave the welcome address said Ghana was failing in terms of educational aspirations. He hinted that in spite of several educational reforms in the post-independent Ghana, the nation’s educational systems continue to be delusive of true Ghanaian values that would have prepared the citizenry to appropriately take up their future roles in society.

The one day workshop was chaired by former Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Cosmos Mereku and emceed by a lecturer and the General Secretary, PATAG, Dr. Kwasi Amponsah. Also in attendance were lecturers at the Department of Theatre Arts and teachers from Basic and High schools.   

“Let’s Ignite the Power in Women for Development” - GMD

GRASAG Women's Commissioner, Princess Amoh second from left with friends

The Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD) of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in collaboration with Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG) – UEW and National Union of Ghana Students (UEW Chapter) organised a three-day event from  8^th – 10^th March to mark the 2018 International Women’s Day (IWD). 

The launching of this year’s IWD took place on Thursday March 8, under the theme “Igniting the Power of the 21^st Century Ghanaian Woman Towards Nation Building” at the Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre, North Campus.

Dr. Andy Birinkorang speaking on the theme

Speaking on the theme, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages Education and Communication, Dr. Andy Birinkorang said, the power in women would be ignited to ensure that Ghanaian women also contribute their quota towards nation building.

“No country would ever develop if it leaves its women behind; all the countries that have developed have carried its women along. Therefore, as long as Ghana decides that women are inferior and should be left for the kitchen and other domestic activities, we will not develop.” He said.

The launching also saw the presence of the Dean of Graduate Studies, Prof. George Kankam as the Chairman, Deputy Registrar, Division of Human Resource, Mrs. Deborah Afful as a representative from the Registry, 1^st Runner-Up of TV3’s Ghana’s Most Beautiful 2017, Helena Baaba Botchway and female students from various institutions in Winneba.

Prof. George Kankam

In his response, Prof. George Kankam indicated that the theme had been carefully selected to put forward the capability of the Ghanaian woman in nation building.

“As a University, this theme is to help eliminate gender inequality and to continue bridging the gap in gender issues. The University of Education, Winneba prides herself as one of the higher educational institutions in Ghana that is strongly committed to promoting gender mainstreaming for which it has a Gender Mainstreaming Directorate charged to spearhead the University’s gender activities.” He said.  

Mrs. Deborah Afful

In a speech read on behalf of the Registrar, Surv. Paul Osei-Barima Esq, it was stated that the UEW theme was well thought out as a means of pressing for progress for women in UEW and the dear nation at large.

“The global theme is ‘Press for Progress; we can’t be Complacent’. UEW has chosen the theme ‘Igniting the Power of the 21^st Century Ghanaian Woman Towards Nation Building’ to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Today is a global call to action to speed up effort for gender parity and equality.” The representative noted.

There were Health Screening exercises on Cervical Cancer, Breast Cancer and Blood Donation at Trauma and Specialist Hospital, Winneba and a Health and Girls Talk at Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre on Friday 9^th March, 2018. 

The three-day event ended on Saturday 10^th March, 2018 with Aerobics and Sports Fiesta at UEW Hand Ball Court, North Campus. 

1st Runner-Up of Ghana's Most Beautiful 2017, Baaba (middle) and some participants 

Blood Donation Exercise