Starting with the 2024/2025 academic year, SDA College of Education in Asokore-Koforidua will implement a new grading system that incorporates marks for student conduct alongside academic performance, aligning with national teaching standards.
Principal Prof. Vincent Adzahlie-Mensah announced the policy change during the graduation ceremony for 452 students on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
He emphasised the need to integrate professional conduct into the grading system, stating, “Teachers are supposed to be examples to the students. They need to be trained in discipline and to have positive attitudes and values that they can showcase to students. We want teachers who will become very professional, upholding ethical values.”
Under the new policy, students’ behaviour—including their adherence to dress code, speech, lecture attendance, and conduct during social events and exams—will impact their grades.
“Today, colleges of education, now recognised as tertiary institutions, must focus on ethical integrity, discipline, and self-management,” Prof. Adzahlie-Mensah explained. “Starting this semester, we will be giving marks for academic performance as well as for students’ professional conduct and behaviour.”
Prof. Adzahlie-Mensah elaborated, “We are looking at how they conduct themselves generally. For example, if a teacher trainee is caught copying in an exam room, it implies they may train students who will also copy. We aim to avoid this. That is the import of our commitment to award half of the marks to professional conduct.”
He underscored that the new policy is designed to ensure graduates excel not only academically but also in moral values and discipline. “We have decided that our students should be trained in all three areas required by the national teaching standards,” he added. “The first area is professional knowledge covered by classroom learning, the second is professional practice, and the third, which is crucial for us, is professional values and attitudes.”
During the ceremony, special awards were given to outstanding students. As the Overall Best Graduating Student with a first-class GPA of 3.68, Emmanuel Sarfo received a tablet and GH₵ 2000 in cash. Additionally, Miss Mariama Dramani and Samuel Martey were awarded tablets for their exemplary behaviour in the well category.
