The School of Education and Leadership (SEL), in the College of Education, recently hosted its maiden SEL Biennial International Conference on Education in partnership with the Education Collaborative, Ashesi University. The conference theme was "Advancing Innovation for Improved Educational Policy and Practice: Prospects and Challenges."
During the opening ceremony, Professor Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, Provost of the College of Education, expressed his delight that the conference was bringing together dedicated professionals to address critical issues facing education in the 21st century. He highlighted the effects of technological advancements, societal issues and global crises on education. Furthermore, he pointed out the need to evaluate educational policies and practices due to rapid technological advancements, as well as disruptions caused by pandemics and conflicts.
"We must harness the power of innovation to shape a brighter future for education," he said. As he spoke, he urged participants to remain committed to excellence, equity and collaboration, and to use this conference as a platform to come together, stronger and united more than ever.
At the event, Professor Gordon S.K. Adika, the Dean of the host School, School of Education and Leadership, expressed his excitement at seeing his vision of instituting a biennial international conference on education become a reality. He indicated that the conference was aimed at enhancing the research, visibility and internationalisation efforts of the School.
Prof. Adika commended the Provost of the College of Education, for his role in research and knowledge dissemination, fostering an environment where such dreams can come to fruition. He urged participants to work hard to ensure the conference attains a high level of relevance and prominence as a national event. Prof. Adika briefly touched on the conference's theme and also commended the organisers for their efforts.
In his remarks, Emeritus Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, expressed his gratitude for being invited as the Special Guest of Honour. He stated that the conference's theme was timely given the current state of educational affairs in Ghana. He stressed on the challenges of educational policies in African countries and the political interventions that disrupt these policies due to changes in government.
He was particularly excited about the panel discussion on ‘Language, Culture and Language Education in Community and Society.’ He highlighted the significant roles a child’s mother tongue plays in cognitive development and the role of language proficiency in early childhood development.
In her address, Mrs. Mercy Kusiwaa Frimpong, Assistant Director of Communications at Education Collaborative, provided an overview of her organisation. She expressed her gratitude for being part of the Biennial International Conference on Education and looked forward to more conferences that would have a positive impact on the educational sector.
Prof. Samuel Awinkene Atintono, Principal of the Accra College of Education, thanked the organisers for the invitation to take part in such a historic conference and for the successful affiliation of four years. He stated that the Accra College of Education places great importance on research and that the conference would provide a platform for lecturers to share their research findings.
The Keynote speaker, Mr. Charles Tsegah, former Acting Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, stressed the importance of the School of Education and Leadership in Ghana’s efforts to improve education and promote a constructive mindset for leadership skills.
He emphasised the importance of attending such conferences, as they offer scholars the opportunity to deepen their understanding of concepts related to their areas of specialisation. These conferences, he added, provide a platform for interaction and examination of knowledge areas that impact society’s development.
Mr. Tsegah advised that it was essential for everyone, not just facilitators or educators, to take a keen interest in promoting changes in all sectors of education. He also highlighted the impact of technology on education and urged participants to leverage it for their educational benefit.
Finally, he wished all the participants the best and hoped that they would have a successful and productive conference.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Codjoe commended the organisers for their efforts and expressed gratitude for the successful programme. His hope was that the biennial conference would grow into an annual event that would enhance knowledge and also promote education.
During the conference, there were panel discussions on various topics related to education. These topics included, Innovation and Technology in Education; Educational Structure and Policy; Curriculum Development in Education, Teaching and Learning; Disability and Special Education and Education and Theory Practice.