Prof. Eric Appau Asante delivering the keynote address
The Coordinator of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Courses at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Eric Appau Asante, has cautioned newly trained teachers against allowing AI to replace their professional judgement and human responsibility in the classroom.
He said although AI could help teachers prepare lesson plans, develop assessment questions and simplify difficult concepts within seconds, it could not replace the human understanding, compassion and moral guidance required to nurture learners.
Delivering the keynote address at the 17th Congregation of Wesley College of Education (WESCO) in Kumasi on Tuesday, October 20, Prof. Asante urged the graduands to embrace technological innovation without compromising the quality of teaching and learning.
Speaking on the theme, “AI in Teacher Education: Navigating Innovation and Implementation,” he warned that the careless use of AI could expose learners’ personal information, spread misleading information and undermine independent thinking.
“If teaching were merely the delivery of information, then machines would already be formidable competitors. But teaching means understanding children, recognising potential, shaping character and exercising judgement in complex human situations,” he stated.
He stressed that while AI could generate lesson content and suggest explanations, teachers remained responsible for ensuring that learners understood what was being taught and received the necessary guidance and encouragement.
“Never mistake a polished AI output for sound pedagogy. We must not produce teachers who are excellent at prompting machines but weak at understanding the learners,” he cautioned.
Prof. Asante urged the graduands to critically assess AI-generated materials, verify their accuracy and adapt them to the needs of their pupils instead of relying blindly on technology.
He explained that effective integration of AI into Ghana’s educational system required more than providing teachers with access to digital tools.
According to him, colleges of education and relevant educational authorities must develop practical guidelines, strengthen teacher preparation, protect learners’ information and provide continuous professional development to ensure responsible AI use.
He called on the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the National Teaching Council, curriculum authorities, school leaders and policymakers to make AI literacy an integral part of professional teacher training.
Educational Gap
Prof. Asante warned that the adoption of AI must not widen the gap between well-resourced urban schools and rural institutions struggling with inadequate infrastructure and limited access to electricity.
He noted that AI could not repair dilapidated classrooms, provide electricity to schools without power or replace teachers who had not been recruited.
He also urged educators to ensure that AI-generated materials reflected Ghana’s curriculum, languages, cultural experiences and available learning resources.
Prof. Asante cited KNUST’s work in foundational AI courses and staff capacity building as an example of the deliberate planning and professional support needed to integrate the technology responsibly.
He challenged WESCO to build on its tradition of intellectual and character formation by becoming a model for responsible, classroom-centred AI integration.
461 Graduates
Meanwhile, the Principal of WESCO, Dr. Kennedy Ameyaw Baah, announced that 461 students had successfully completed their programmes of study and were eligible to graduate at the ceremony.
He disclosed that seven graduands, representing approximately 1.52 per cent, obtained First-Class Honours, while 329 students, representing 71.37 per cent, earned Second-Class Upper Honours.
The remaining 125 students, representing 27.12 per cent, obtained Second-Class Lower Honours. No student graduated below Second-Class Lower.
Dr. Baah noted that the graduands were the first batch to complete their programmes under the new national uniform grading system introduced in colleges of education four years ago.
Under the new system, students require a Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA) of 80 or a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.0 to obtain First-Class Honours, compared with the previous threshold of 70.
Infrastructure
The Principal said the college was working towards becoming a centre of excellence in pre-tertiary teacher education in Ghana and beyond.
On infrastructure, he said construction of a 2,000-capacity auditorium had reached 30 per cent completion at the substructure stage, while the joint college and Students’ Representative Council water project was 50 per cent complete.
Renovation works on the second phase of the S.H. Amissah Administration Block had also reached 60 per cent completion.
He appealed to the government, GTEC, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and other stakeholders to help complete a 300-bed student hostel that had been abandoned for two years.
The Principal also called for support to complete the four-storey WESCOPA Lecture Complex, whose first-floor construction was 50 per cent complete.
He identified the lack of a modern lecture complex, inadequate staff bungalows and the absence of a new 50-seater bus for the college’s weekly Supported Teaching in Schools exercise as major challenges facing the institution.
Dr. Baah urged the graduands to uphold integrity, compassion and hard work as they entered the teaching profession, stressing that their responsibility went beyond imparting academic knowledge to shaping the character and future of their pupils.
He reminded them of the college’s motto, “Quod Bonum Est Tenete,” which means “Hold fast to that which is good.”
The Principal expressed gratitude to the government, the Methodist Church Ghana, the College Council, the Wesley College Past Students Association (WESCOPA), sponsors and staff for their continued support towards the development of the institution.
FROM David Afum, Kumasi