Dambai College of Education marked a significant milestone on Thursday, 13th March, 2025, with the celebration of her 20th Matriculation Ceremony held at the forecourt of the College Administration Block. The event, which began at 10:55 a.m., was attended by various dignitaries and stakeholders, and officially inducted new students into the institution.
The ceremony commenced with an opening prayer by Rev. Godwin Gbadagba, followed by remarks from the Deputy College Registrar, Mr. Thaddeus Kokobina. He outlined the purpose of the gathering: to officially admit the fresh men and women into the College.
Prof. Ibrahim Gunu, the Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University for Development Studies (UDS), delivered a keynote address in which he expressed his privilege and honour to be part of the event. He commended the leadership of the College for its strong collaboration with UDS and praised the College’s initiative in establishing a journal that serves 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 matriculates for the administration of the matriculation oath. The total number of the newly matriculated students was 385. They were enrolled in the various Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) specializations offered by the College:
- Early Grade Education: 59 students;
- Primary Education: 98 students; and
- Junior High School Education: 228 students.
Dambai College of Education is affiliated to the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale. Prof. Ibrahim Gunu, Dean of the Faculty of Education at UDS, 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. Afterward, Master Justice Ndigun, a representative of the freshers, delivered a brief speech on behalf of his fellow students, sharing their expectations for their time at the College.
In her address, Dr. Mrs. Benedicta Awusi Atiku welcomed the new students and acknowledged the distinguished guests in attendance. She emphasised the significance of matriculation, noting that it marks the official acceptance of the students into the academic community. Dr. Atiku shared the statistics of admissions for the academic year, revealing that 1,028 applicants chose Dambai College as their first choice, with 385 students admitted – 241 males (62.60 %) and 144 females (37.40 %).
The Principal also underscored the importance of the teaching profession, calling it the “noblest and most infectious profession,” and shared the College’s continuous efforts to improve infrastructure and resources. She encouraged the freshers to familiarise themselves with the College’s policies, which are available for download on the College’s website: www.dace.edu.gh
Additionally, Dr. Atiku announced that the College had been accredited to run two new programmes: 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 the allocation of funds for student allowances.
She also made an appeal to the government to complete the ongoing office complex and auditorium projects before the College celebrates her 51st Anniversary in September 2025, and called for additional infrastructure such as a Lecture Hall Complex, Residential Hostel Complex, a modern Science Laboratory, an ICT Lab, and an Early Grade Resource Centre.
Several dignitaries offered pieces of advice to the freshers:
- The Municipal Chief Director of Krachi East emphasized the importance of using the knowledge gained at the College to make a positive impact on society and encouraged the students to dedicate themselves to the teaching profession.
- Mr. Prince Anaglatey, Regional Fire Commander of the Oti Region, urged the students to stay focused on their studies and be mindful of fire safety precautions while on campus.
- ACP Alhassan Razak, Krachi East Municipal Crime Officer, advised the 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.
- The representative of Nana Kwaku Beyernnor ll, the chief of Dambai; as the Oti Regional Minister, Hon. John Kojo Gyapong was represented by Rev. Henry Owu.
Rev. Harry Nii Owu, Chief Director of the Oti Regional Coordinating Council, delivered a speech on behalf of the Oti Regional Minister. He encouraged the freshers to reflect on their lives and ponder key questions: “Who are you? Why are you here? What are you doing here?” He emphasised 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 future teachers of the nation. He urged the 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 the challenges and opportunities ahead. Newly matriculated students are encouraged to embark on their academic journey with enthusiasm and make meaningful contributions to the College Community. The event was brought to a close with a closing prayer by Mr. Rahim Ab-Dulai, and the assembly was officially dissolved at 12:45 p.m. by Prof. Ibrahim Gunu.
The 20th Matriculation Ceremony of Dambai College of Education was a significant and inspiring event, as freshers officially embarked on their academic journey, with encouragement and guidance from the College’s leadership and distinguished guests.
Source: DACE Editorial Board
