Dambai College of Education holds 20th Matriculation Ceremony

Dambai College of Education marked a significant milestone by celebrating its 20th Matriculation Ceremony at the forecourt of the College Administration Block. The event, attended by various dignitaries and stakeholders, officially inducted new students into the institution.

The Deputy College Registrar, Mr. Thaddeus Kokobina, in his opening remarks, outlined the purpose of the gathering—to formally admit the fresh men and women into the College.

Prof. Ibrahim Gunu, Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University for Development Studies (UDS), delivered the keynote address, expressing his privilege and honor to be part of the event. He commended the College’s leadership for its strong collaboration with UDS and praised its initiative in establishing a journal as a platform for knowledge sharing. He noted that this effort places the College among the top model colleges of education in Ghana. Prof. Gunu also highlighted UDS’s recent success in university rankings, where it placed 3rd in Ghana and 5th out of 29 universities assessed.

Dr. Frank Awuah, Vice Principal of the College, presented the matriculants for the administration of the matriculation oath. A total of 385 students were officially enrolled in various Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) specializations, including Early Grade Education, Primary Education, and Junior High School Education.

Dambai College of Education is affiliated with UDS in Tamale. Prof. Ibrahim Gunu, therefore, administered the matriculation oath, formally inducting the new students into the College.

Following the oath, Dr. Mrs. Benedicta Awusi Atiku, Principal of Dambai College of Education, officially matriculated the students. The freshers signed the matriculation register to complete the formalities. Master Justice Ndigun, a representative of the freshers, delivered a brief speech on behalf of his colleagues, sharing their expectations for their time at the College.

In her address, Dr. Atiku welcomed the new students and acknowledged the distinguished guests in attendance. She emphasized the significance of matriculation, noting that it marks the official acceptance of students into the academic community. She also shared admission statistics for the academic year, revealing that 1,028 applicants chose Dambai College as their first choice, with 385 students admitted—comprising 241 males (62.6%) and 144 females (37.4%).

Dr. Atiku underscored the importance of the teaching profession, calling it the “noblest and most infectious profession.” She highlighted the College’s continuous efforts to improve infrastructure and resources and encouraged freshers to familiarize themselves with the College’s policies, which are available for download on the College’s website: www.dace.edu.gh.

Additionally, she announced that the College had been accredited to run two new programs: B.Ed. Home Economics and B.Ed. Mathematics and ICT. She expressed gratitude to the government for supporting the migration of staff onto the university salary structure and for allocating funds for student allowances.

Dr. Atiku also appealed to the government to complete the ongoing office complex and auditorium projects before the College celebrates its 51st Anniversary in September 2025. She called for additional infrastructure, including a Lecture Hall Complex, Residential Hostel Complex, a modern Science Laboratory, an ICT Lab, and an Early Grade Resource Centre.

Several dignitaries shared words of advice with the freshers:

• The Municipal Chief Director of Krachi East emphasized the importance of using knowledge gained at the College to positively impact society and encouraged students to dedicate themselves to the teaching profession.
• Mr. Prince Anaglatey, Regional Fire Commander of the Oti Region, urged students to stay focused on their studies and be mindful of fire safety precautions on campus.
• ACP Alhassan Razak, Krachi East Municipal Crime Officer, advised students to avoid criminal activity and the use of illicit substances.
• Nana Dasebre Atamafowiase Bonjah II, Overlord of the Chonke Traditional Area, spoke about the importance of obedience to authority, dedication to teaching, and the need for humility and compassion.
• Rev. Harry Owu, Chief Director of the Oti Regional Coordinating Council, delivered a speech on behalf of the Oti Regional Minister, Hon. John Kojo Gyapong. He encouraged freshers to reflect on key questions: “Who are you? Why are you here? What are you doing here?” He emphasized that the answers to these questions should guide their actions throughout their time at the College.

Rev. Owu also praised the teaching profession as the “noblest profession” and commended the College’s leadership for its commitment to shaping the nation’s future teachers. He urged freshers to respect authority, work hard, and be conscious of the spiritual aspects of their journey.

The College Administration reaffirmed its dedication to fostering a supportive learning environment and urged students to embrace both challenges and opportunities. Newly matriculated students were encouraged to embark on their academic journey with enthusiasm and contribute meaningfully to the College community.

Source: Graham Kofi Baldwin