After 60 Years of Struggle, Atebubu College of Education Finally Gets Major Infrastructure Lifeline

Atebubu College of Education (ATECOE), one of Ghana's oldest teacher-training institutions, is on the brink of transformation after decades of infrastructure neglect that forced the college to run gruelling lectures from 6am to 9pm daily. The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has now approved a comprehensive development package that promises to reshape the institution and restore its standing as a leading centre for teacher education.

The intervention comes as relief to thousands of students and lecturers who have endured cramped conditions and exhausting schedules for years. According to Dr Daniel Ashong, Vice Principal of the college, the shortage of classroom space has been crippling. "The lack of classroom space is forcing lectures to be extended from 6am to 9pm daily," he told Joy News. "It is exhausting for both tutors and students, but we have no choice. We must teach."

A Historic Institution at Breaking Point

Established in October 1965, ATECOE holds significant place in Ghana's educational landscape. It was the first secondary institution and the only teacher-training college in the eastern corridor of what was then Brong-Ahafo Region, now Bono East. Today, the college operates a four-year Bachelor of Education degree programme, producing teachers for basic schools across the country.

Despite this proud legacy, the institution has battled chronic resource shortages. Limited lecture halls have forced multiple shifts and extended hours, whilst staff and student accommodation remains severely inadequate. The compressed timetable, whilst showcasing staff dedication, has raised concerns about student fatigue, concentration levels, and overall teaching quality.

What the GETFund Projects Will Deliver

The GETFund intervention includes three major components designed to address ATECOE's most pressing needs:

• A new state-of-the-art lecture hall to reduce classroom congestion and allow return to normal operating hours
• Modern accommodation facilities for both staff and students, addressing years of housing shortage
• Tarred roads across the campus, improving the physical environment and campus appeal

Atebubu Municipal Chief Executive Masaudu Thomas Ayaaba emphasised that the projects extend beyond basic facility provision. "These projects are not just about bricks and mortar. They will restore the pride of Atebubu College of Education and, in turn, help boost enrollment," he stated. The upgraded facilities are expected to make the college more attractive to prospective students and improve recruitment for the teacher-education programme.

Why This Matters for Ghana's Teacher Training

Ghana's education sector depends heavily on teacher-training colleges like ATECOE to supply qualified educators to basic schools nationwide. The chronic infrastructure deficits at the college have had ripple effects: overcrowded classes reduce teaching quality, exhausted lecturers may deliver less effective lessons, and poor facilities deter talented young people from pursuing teaching careers. This compounds Ghana's existing teacher shortages in rural and disadvantaged areas.

The GETFund intervention signals renewed government commitment to upgrading teacher-training infrastructure. When ATECOE's facilities improve, the college can expand intake, reduce pressure on existing buildings, and create a more conducive learning environment. This should help produce more teachers and potentially improve their initial training quality—factors that matter for primary and secondary education across the country.

Construction is already underway, with the contractor reporting progress ahead of schedule. For students and staff at ATECOE, the sight of cranes and concrete mixers represents more than construction activity—it symbolises the end of an era of neglect and the beginning of a renaissance for one of Ghana's oldest educational institutions. Within the coming months, the 6am-to-9pm lecture marathon should become history.