KUMASI: The contribution of Jackson University College (JUC) to teacher education in Ghana has received applause from the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum. The College has produced 19,435 professional teachers since 2009 through distance learning as an accredited private institution focusing on training teachers for rural communities. According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Adutwum addressed the 12th congregation of the College in Kumasi as the keynote speaker, where he paid tribute to the founders of JUC for their significant contribution to the teaching profession. He shared that the College faced various challenges initially, even from the education establishment, due to misunderstandings about their approach. However, he highlighted the outstanding performance of Jackson students in the first licensure exams as evidence of the College's effectiveness. Dr Adutwum emphasized the importance of focusing on outcomes in education rather than processes, praising both the graduates and the founders for th eir foresight and innovation. He also reminded the graduates of the rapidly changing educational landscape and the need to adapt to a technologically inclined environment. The Minister also presented the government's efforts to modernize school environments with new classroom buildings, stressing the inadequacy of educating 21st-century students in outdated facilities. He assured that the government has initiated steps to improve educational infrastructure across the country. Mrs Theodosia Jackson, Principal of JUC, described the College's learner-oriented distance education program, which operates at 30 learning centres across 13 regions. She highlighted the innovative blended online and in-person learning modes and adherence to quality assurance measures set by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission and their affiliate institution, the University of Education, Winneba. Mrs Jackson encouraged the graduates to continue their pursuit of knowledge and contribute uniquely to society, addressing pressing issu es such as environmental concerns and the development of alternative energy sources. She expressed confidence in their ability to meet these challenges.