Wesley College of Education (WESCO) in Kumasi has graduated 450 Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) students at its 16th graduation ceremony. This year’s event focused on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to change and improve how teachers are trained and how they teach in classrooms.
The theme for the event: “Transforming Teacher Education with AI: Advancing the WESCO Agenda for Excellence.”
The keynote speaker, Associate Professor Kofi Sarpong Adu-Manu from the University of Ghana, encouraged the new teachers to welcome AI as a tool that can bring change and innovation into education.
He boldly told the graduates, “AI will not change Ghana; you will.” He continued by stressing that “teachers must become AI-literate, ethically conscious, and ready to integrate technology to enhance learning.”
Partnership to Train Teachers with AI Tools
Prof. Adu-Manu also praised WESCO for working together with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL). Through this partnership, the college created an AI-supported mentoring programme. This programme has already helped train 100 student-teachers and 25 mentors to create Open Educational Resources (OERs) using AI tools. These OERs are meant to support inclusive and accessible education.
Principal’s Report and College Achievements
The Principal of WESCO shared some proud achievements of the school:
- 12 lecturers now hold PhDs, compared to six last year.
- 30 other lecturers are currently pursuing their doctorate degrees.
- The college received CAD 19,000 from COL’s STEM Project to improve the use of AI in training teachers.
- 23 visually impaired students have received full support, showing the college’s commitment to inclusion.
The Principal also spoke about new construction projects, including:
- A 2,000-seat auditorium
- A 300-bed hostel funded by GETFund
- A staff bungalow supported by Ghana Gas
He ended his address by asking the government and partners to support the college with a lecture hall complex and transport for teacher trainees.
Graduates’ Performance
Out of the 450 graduates:
- 256 students earned First Class Honours
- 183 earned Second Class Upper
- 11 earned Second Class Lower
Prof. Adu-Manu described the ceremony as “The WESCO Moment.” He said, “This is the birth of a new generation of educators — equipped with conviction, competence, and compassion to teach in the age of AI.”
The graduation was not just a celebration but a strong message to the world — WESCO is taking bold steps to prepare future teachers who can use modern tools like AI to solve today’s classroom problems and prepare students for a better future
