Entry by: Tracey Duffey from the World Cocoa Foundation
The Twi proverb “Obi nnim a obi kyere” (What one does not know, another can teach) is one of the first colorful posters I noticed when visiting the Teacher Resource Center (TRC) at the St. Joseph Training College in Bechem*. Games and posterboards line the walls depicting lessons in various school subject areas from health and safety, to science and grammar, and of course cocoa and agriculture.
I traveled with Mr. Kwesi Dzidzienyo, International Foundation for Education and Self-Help Ghana Country Representative, to meet Principal Mensah and the TRC Teacher Coordinator. The TRC offers workshops and resources for pre- and in- service teachers in the surrounding area to learn how to develop creative and interactive teaching materials for use in their lesson plans.
Although the IFESH Volunteer, Mrs. Pauline Landrigan, who worked with the Training College officials to establish the TRC during the 2005-2006 school year, completed her assignment, the principal, teachers, and students energetically continue the activities and trainings.
Local graduate, Mr. Clement Mensah, is the center assistant volunteer (and pictured below at his office desk in the Center).
Clement manages the daily administrative duties at the TRC, which in addition to the teacher training workshops, offers photocopying and typing services for the students and teachers in the community so that their operational costs can be self-sustaining.
I would like to thank Principal Mensah and his team for their gracious hospitality, as well as my colleague Kwesi Dzidzienyo for arranging my visit. I leave you with the quote found on a second poster so prominently displayed in the center:
Best wishes from Ghana, Tracey
*Bechem is one of three towns in Ghana where a TRC has been developed in partnership with IFESH through funding from the World Cocoa Foundation and member The Hershey Company.
Comments (6)
The World Cocoa Foundation and The Hershey Company have been very supportive to the Teacher Resource Centre (TRC) in St. Joseph’s Training College (JOSCO), Bechem.
The World Cocoa Foundation and member Hershey through IFESH-Ghana donated computer and accessories, a photocopier and laminating machine to the TRC in JOSCO. This donation has immensely benefited the College’s Resource Centre by helping the Resource Centre Assistant to provide secretarial services and generate additional income for the Centre and the College as a whole.
Thanks to Tracey Duffey for covering and highlighting the Centre on the World Cocoa Foundation Website after her visit to the Centre in Bechem, Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana – West Africa.
Thanks to the World Cocoa Foundation and the Hershey Company for their tremendous support to the Resource Centre in the College. We look forward to a fruitful partnership to make the Centre reach its desired destination as a Centre of Excellence in the Professional development of Teachers
Clement Mensah (Resource Centre Assistant)
dickbannerman@yahoo.co.uk
Posted by Clement Mensah | February 13, 2007 12:09 PM
Posted on February 13, 2007 12:09
The College is grateful to you Tracey, for highlighting the activities of the St. Joseph’s Training College (JOSCO) Teacher Resource Centre established with the support of IFESH and the generous contribution of the World Cocoa Foundation and The Hershey Company.
We are very grateful to IFESH, the World Cocoa Foundation, Hershey and Mrs. Pauline Landrigan for the Centre which we hope with donor support – to link to the internet in our dream to create a Centre of Excellence for the training and Professional development of Teachers.
There is one more thing about the College you will find exciting as you read the magazine ‘JOSCO EYE’: The Motto of the College – ”OBI DAN OBI” which stands for interdependence and mutual support for the common good. It is collaboration to achieve academic, professional and moral excellence, not conspiracy to do evil.
As we celebrate the 59th Anniversary of the College on March 18, 2007 at a time Ghana our dear nation is 50, we reflect on this motto and look forward to networking with stakeholders for the provision of quality Teacher Education. We continue to count on the generosity of the World Cocoa Foundation, Hershey, IFESH and all stakeholders in quality education to make our dreams come true.
It is in this spirit of interdependence that we whole heartedly welcome the World Cocoa Foundation, Hershey and all stakeholders in May 2007 to the Campus of this Great Institution to thank them for contributing to our success story and to contribute to the fulfillment of their dreams.
“AYEKOO” (WELL DONE) Tracey Duffey, keep up the good work
Charles D. B. Mensah (PRINCIPAL, St. Joseph’s Training College)
Posted by Charles D. B. Mensah | February 13, 2007 12:19 PM
Posted on February 13, 2007 12:19
It warms my heart to see the TRC operating to benefit the new teachers of Ghana. I am honored to have been a part of faithful JOSCO community.
Congratulations to Ghana on 50 years of independence and to JOSCO for 59 educationally rich years.
Posted by Pauline C. Landrigan | February 14, 2007 10:00 PM
Posted on February 14, 2007 22:00
I am very pleased to see the good work you are doing to promote education in Ghana.I was highly impressed to see cocoa being promoted especially in connection with education becuase it is a way of boosting the morale of the cocoa farmers.
But I will be glad if you could explicitly explain how we can use cocoa or any of its products to teach mathematics in our basic schools. Anywaay, thanks again for your good work.
Posted by Ahmed Kobina Amihere | May 8, 2007 4:52 AM
Posted on May 8, 2007 04:52
You are the best teacher training college
Posted by Damoah Collins Mensah | July 11, 2007 9:23 PM
Posted on July 11, 2007 21:23
do it
Posted by charles francis | May 18, 2009 7:08 AM
Posted on May 18, 2009 07:08