Ola College of Education
Our Lady of Apostles College of Education, widely known as OLA College of Education, is an all-female Catholic Institution founded by the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles in 1924 at Saint Mary’s Convent School, Cape Coast.
It all began when Rev. Mother Acquiline Tobin, an Irish Missionary of OLA Sisters, anticipated the need to train Ghanaian female teachers to help the expatriate OLA Nuns in their convent elementary schools which were mostly located along the coastal towns in the then Gold Coast. The College started as a Catholic Training Centre with six (6) school leavers who had completed their School Leaving Certificate at Saint Mary’s Middle School with distinction.
Basically, the Nuns offered professional guidance to these outstanding graduates by preparing them to teach the fundamentals of formal education, namely: Reading, Arithmetic, Writing, Moral Education and Personal Hygiene.
The Catholic Nuns believed that to ensure holistic education of Ghanaian children, the involvement of women at the foundation stage was necessary to instill the right fundamental and cultural valves. Little did the Nuns know they were sowing a seed for a future ‘Mother College” for our dear Nation.
The College became popular with the caliber of teachers she turned out. As a result, the new College was adopted and officially approved by the then British Government under Sir Gordon Guggisberg in 1926 as a Post Middle Teacher Training College, making it the first female College of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.
By 1933, the student population had grown beyond the capacity of the available facility. A new location for the College became necessary, and so the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles acquired a 93-acre land outside the city of Cape Coast at the time and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean to cater for the steadily increasing student numbers.
On the 3rd of October, 1935, His Lordship, Monsignor William T. Porter, Bishop of Urusitana and Vicar Apostolic of the Gold Coast blessed and commissioned the new facilities and so the College moved to her present site with Rev. Sister Borgia Thomas as the Principal.
In September, 2005, OLA College of Education was accredited by the National Accreditation Board of the Ministry of Education, as an affiliate College of the University of Cape Coast to run the Teachers Diploma in Basic Education (DBE). The Colleges of Education Act 847 of 2012 further upgraded the College to a Public Tertiary Education Institution under the name OLA College of Education.
OLA College of Education has established herself in a class of her own and ranks among the top Colleges of Education in the country. It is the only all-female College in the country offering Science and Mathematics Programmes.
Our Passion
Our Lady of Apostles College of Education is imbued with a passion of providing her students with an education that is a holistic model of educating the whole person: head, heart and hand. Developing character, a revolutionary spirit, a leadership potential and spiritual growth.
Academic Developments
OLA College, since its inception has run different Teacher Education programmes in the area of its academic and professional development to meet the demands of Teacher education of the country.
The College started as a Two-Year Post-Middle Teachers’ Certificate ‘B’, and in 1962, the moved to a 4-Year Post-Middle Certificate ‘A’ programme
A Two-Year top-up Programme was run for teachers holding Certificate “B” to upgrade to Certificate ‘A’.
A Two-Year Specialist Course in Vocational Education was also introduced in 1969 for Certificate ‘A’ teachers to train as Home Science teachers who were in short supply at the middle school level.
A 2-Year Post Secondary Vocational Specialist Course was initiated in 1973; followed by a 3-Year Post Secondary Certificate ‘A’ programme in 1976.
The College also partnered with the Ghana Education Service to run ‘Modular” programmes to train and re-train pupil-teachers from 1982-1986.
A 4-Year Diploma in Basic Education programme, termed as “Untrained Teachers Diploma in Basic Education” (UTDBE) was run in 2006 in collaboration with the Teacher Education Division of GES to upgrade the capabilities and expertise of untrained teachers.
A 2-Year Diploma in Basic Education by Sandwich mode was run to upgrade the Certificate ‘A’ Teachers from 2005 to 2009.
OLA College of Education, having been accredited by the National Accreditation Board of the Ministry of Education, as an affiliate College of the University of Cape Coast in September 2005, introduced the Diploma in Basic Education (DBE) Programme.
The Colleges of Education Act 847 of 2012 further upgraded the College to a Public Tertiary Education Institution under the name OLA College of Education.
OLA College of Education, like other public Colleges of Education in Ghana, was upgraded to a University Status to run a 4-Year Bachelor of Education Degree Programmes in September 2018.
CURRENT PROGRAMMES
The College currently offers
4-Year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) Degree Programmes:
1. B.Ed. Primary Education
2. B.Ed. Early Childhood Education
3. B.Ed. Junior High School Education, with specialties in the following disciplines:
· English Language and Literature
· Information Communication Technology
· Mathematics
· Science
· Ghanaian Language
· Religious and Moral Education
· Home Economics
· Social Studies
Sandwich Programmes:
1. Five Semester Bachelor of Education Programme
2. One year three-Semester Post-Diploma in Education (Top-Up) for DBE Teachers.
These programmes are run by the Institute of Education, University of Cape Coast.
OUR UNIQUENESS
The uniqueness of Our Lady of Apostles College lies in its objective to provide quality teacher education that will enable her Graduates to become value-oriented and trained holistically.
The exceptional seafront College in the country that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, gives it a very serene environment and outlook.
OLA College is a dynamic, progressive and continually evolving College with a conductive atmosphere for learning.
We believe in self-discipline and the holistic development and training of contemporary teachers.
We take pride in having the most experienced and qualified tutors in the field of Teacher Preparation in Ghana.
Our academic records and achievements have been consistent and next to none.
We blend religious and cultural values with professional development in the training of quality teachers for national development.
OLA College is currently the only all-female College of Education in Ghana offering the Science and Mathematics Elective programmes.
We are unique in the application of modern interventions and technology to raise the College to become the preferred female College of Education in Ghana and beyond.
Vision and Mission
VISION STATEMENT
“To create a unique centre of excellence for training holistic, inspirational, professionally driven and value-oriented teachers for national and global development”.
MISSION STATEMENT
To be a model institution with highly trained professionals that develops an ethically sound environment, nurtures quality professional practice, and promotes the training of outstanding teachers through research, application of modern technologies and interventions.
CORE VALUES
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Diversity
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Excellence
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Integrity
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Innovation
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Professionalism
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Teamwork
History
HISTORY OF OLA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Our Lady of Apostles College of Education commonly known as “OLA College” is the premiere women’s college in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was established by the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, a Catholic Missionary Order, whose primary objective was to educate and empower the African woman in every way possible, so that she will in turn promote good Christian family life for a better society.
The College started in 1924 in a little room at Saint Mary’s Convent School, Cape Coast when Rev. Mother Acquiline Tobin (Irish Nun) anticipated the need for Ghanaian female teachers to help the sisters in their convent schools. Thus, with the support of her Religious Order, Mother Acquiline began the training of four young Ghanaian ladies who had obtained their middle School Leaving Certificate with outstanding performance.
In September 2005 OLA Training College received accredited from the National Accreditation Board of the Ministry of Education, with the the name OLA College of Education. The College officially became an affiliate College of the University of Cape Coast to run Teachers Diploma in basic Education (DBE). The Colleges of Education ACT 847 of 2012 further upgraded all College of Education in Ghana to a public Tertiary Education Institutions under the name OLA College of Education
OLA College of Education has established itself as a Class of her own and ranks among the top Colleges of Education in the country. It is the only all-female College of Education in the country offering Science and Mathematics programmes.
Currently OLA College of education is accredited as a Science based College of Education offering Bachelor of education programmes in the following:
- Early childhood education
- Primary education and
- Junior high school education
Principal's Welcome Message
Welcome to OLA College of Education!
On behalf of the Governing Council, Management and Staff, I warmly welcome you to Our Lady of Apostles College of Education. We are the first all-female College of Education in Sub-Saharan Africa and one of the best in the country.
Established in 1924, OLA College of Education will mark her Centenary in 2024. The College has made great strides in all areas. Currently, she offers the Bachelor of Education programmes in Early Childhood, Primary and Junior High School Education.
The College now boasts of a student population of about 1,700 and a staff strength of about 120 well-trained and highly qualified personnel- both academic and non-academic staff.
Our products stand out as excellent teachers and human resource in all walks of life in Ghana and beyond.
I welcome you to explore our content and visit our campus if you desire.
Thank you.
Dr. Mrs. Regina Okyere-Dankwa
The Principal
Dr. Mrs. Regina Okyere-Dankwa is an academician who holds a PhD in Social Studies. She has over 30 years of teaching experience at all levels of the educational sector, with almost 4 years of senior Management experience at the tertiary level. She is an alumnae of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Teacher Training College.
Her research interests include quality assurance in higher institutions, Gender issues, women and education for development in the developing country context.
Dr. Mrs. Regina Okyere-Dankwa holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Studies from the University of Education, Winneba (2015) where she specialized in Women and Education for Development. She also has a Master of Philosophy in Social Studies from the University of Education Winneba (2006). She read her Bachelor of Education in Social Studies, majoring in Political Science and Women in Community Development at the University of Education, Winneba in 2001. She has a Diploma in Education in Social Studies (2000) and a post-secondary teacher training Certificate in Education from OLA Training College, Cape Coast (1990).
Dr. Mrs. Regina Okyere-Dankwa has risen through the ranks, providing academic leadership in relevant sections wherever she found herself. She worked as a Senior Lecturer and Dean of the International Programmes and Institutional Linkages Section of the Koforidua Technical University in 2020. She headed the Quality Assurance Directorate of the Koforidua Technical University from 2017 to 2019, during which she led the directorate to establish the coordination of quality assurance processes in teaching, learning, research and evaluation.
She has chaired many boards and committees, including the Disciplinary Committee (Resit Examination), Policy Committee, Quality Assurance Board, Investigative Committee, Disciplinary Committee, Constitution of Disciplinary Committee on Alleged Case of Larceny, Constitution of Disciplinary Committee on Examination Malfeasance and others.
As part of the her contributions and ecclesiastical responsibilities in the Catholic Church, she is a member of the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua. A Facilitator and Mentor of the Konrad Adenauer Stifung/ Christian Mothers Association.
Dr. Mrs. Regina Okyere-Dankwa is a Christian. She is married to Dr. Seth Okyere-Dankwa (Dean, Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Koforidua Technical University) with children.
Past Principals
PAST PRINCIPALS OF OLA YEAR SERVED
- REV. SR. AQUILINE TOBIN = 1924 - 1928
- REV SR PATRICIA LOUGHNANE = 1928 - 1930
- REV SR. AQUILINE TOBIN = 1930 - 1932
- REV SR ANGELA O’MAHONY = 1932 - 1934
- REV SR. BORGIA THOMAS = 1934 - 1936
- REV SR. SALVE O'REILLY = 1936 - 1938
- REV SR. BORGIA THOMAS = 1938 - 1943
- REV SR. BREDA HAYES = 1943 - 1946
- REV SR PETER COYLE = 1953 - 1960
- REV SR FRANICIS DE SALES CONLON = 1960 - 1966
- REV SR COLOMBIERE O'DRISCOLL = 1966 - 1971
- REV SR. MARY RITA O'MAHONY = 1971 - 1977
- MRS AGNES KORANTENG = 1977 - 2002
- REV SR ELIZABETH AMOAKO-ARHEN = 2002 - 2020
CURRENT PRINCIPAL: DR. MRS. REGINA OKYERE-DANKWA – 2021 TO DATE
The Vice Principal
Principal Officers
The Governing Council
Members of the governing council
Management Team
Dr. Mrs. Regina Okyere-Darko
Principal
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Vice Principal
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College Secretary
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Librarian
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Quality Assurance
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Finance Officer
Dean of Students
Quality Assurance
Quality Assurance (QA) involves the promotion of best practices in adherence to standards set for best professionalism in work ethics and behaviour. This helps to facilitate good monitoring and supervision of all activities that take place in the various departments of the institution to promote harmony, orderliness and a progressive achievement of the institution’s vision and mission.
The Quality Assurance Unit in collaboration with the College management has an oversight responsibility in ensuring the smooth and effective running of the institution. Without the Quality assurance Unit the institutional structures for promoting quality and adding value to the College life, such as transparency, accountability, and so on are brought into disrepute and virtually collapse. Therefore management, Students, Staff (teaching and non-teaching) shall ensure strict adherence of the standards set in all units and departments of the College.
The purpose of Quality Assurance is to improve the quality of the day-to-day activities of the College, which also encompasses the effective and efficient use of resources; both human and infrastructural to promote the progressive achievement of the intended Vision and Mission of the College leading to the total advancement of OLA College of Education as a unique centre of excellence.
The Role of the QA Unit is to:
- promote best practices in the general life of the academic institution in the area of teaching and learning, assessment, supervision, appraisal, public engagement, and the like.
- monitor and see to the effective implementation of the College strategic plan.
- ensure that standards set and agreed upon are followed and applied in all aspects of the College’s life.
- identify challenges in the administration and management of the College, as well as the teaching and learning systems for subsequent consideration and improvement.
- integrate the use of modern technologies and other modern interventions to train teachers so that Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) will be adequately prepared to meet the trends in contemporary society.
- develop new and innovative assessment tools for supervision, monitoring and motivation, as a way of promoting effective teaching and learning.
- put in place a comprehensive and progressive capacity building system for all staff and management.
- promote transparency and accountability in the entire College community.
- ensure adherence to standards set in the conduct of examinations for the achievement of academic excellence.
- work on any areas the Principal assigns to the unit to address
The Quality Assurance Unit is headed by Dr Emmanuel Kwame Larbi Mantey with the assistance of two National Service persons in the name of Ms Ellen Naana Aggrey and Ms Priscilla Mensah Acheampong.