AMENYO REAGAN MARIO

APPLICATION FOR ENROLMENT INTO THE MASTER OF EDUCATION (MEd CURRICULUM STUDIES
COURSE BASED OPTION)

I graduated from the University of Ghana in 2014 with a degree in Political science with Geography
and resource development. My teaching career begun in August 2014 when I
was posted on national service to teach Social Studies at ITA-JAFAR Islamic Basic School. Though
very challenging as a non-professional teacher, the experiences along with interactions with
these young ones was a great period of learning and these experiences eventually developed
into a strong passion for teaching. In last four years, I have been teaching Geography at Anum
Presbyterian Senior High School and preparing students for their final year examination
organized by the West African Examination Council (WAEC). I have also been working for WAEC
as an assistant examiner and also taken over some administrative positions such as serving as a
Secretary to the Parent Teachers Association of Anum Presbyterian Senior High along working as a
class advisor.

My formative years as a teacher was very challenging as I had no training in education and hence
faced difficulties in managing the classroom, planning lesson for effective teaching and resolving
conflicts in the classroom. It was with these challenges that led me to pursuee requisite knowledge
and skills in Education at the University of Education Winneba (UEW) where I studied and
graduated with Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in 2020. I subsequently sat for
the National Teacher Council of Ghana (NTC) teacher certification examination in 2022, passed
and obtain a qualified teacher status. During the one-year program at UEW, I took courses such
techniques of teaching and learning, educational technology, assessment etc. and also undertook
and presented a research paper on the effects of peer influence on students’ academic
performance in Senior High Schools in Ghana. The PGDE program positively influenced my
teaching and this was evident as the school recorded as increase in the pass rate of geography
students.

In spite of the various strides made in my professional life as teacher, I realize there was a still
enough to learn after I attended a professional development workshop organized by the NTC on
the need for teachers to develop a curriculum that inculcates the interest of the student and make
them better learners. This was the point I realized a vacuum in my professorial development and
started an extensive search which finally landed me at MEd Curriculum Studies program
offered at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S).
In recent times, there has been an uptrend of teachers quitting their jobs mostly between three to
five in the profession. This situation is more prevailing in developing countries like Ghana suffering
post COVID-19 pandemic effects such as depression and burn out. It’s reported that in 2021, over
45,000 Ghanaian teachers quit their jobs and this to me is largely due to teachers hanging onto
practices of 20years ago making teaching and learning a boring activity. As a teacher, I am of the
opinion that, a teachers’ capability to be receptive to contemporary ideas, new ways of thinking
and advanced strategies are key to ensuring that all students
are successful in and outside the classroom. And it for this reason I strongly believe the MEd
Curriculum Studies program offered at the U of S is an appreciable means of gaining grounds
in my carrier and it would help improve my professionalism as a teacher. The program
I believe provides in-service teachers like me a considerable way to continue my practice in a
thoughtful meticulous manner and would also equip me with a new set of skill and knowledge to
meet the needs of a continuously changing learning environment of the 21st century.

Also, the modules offered under this program are aligned to my interest of becoming an expert in
curriculum studies in the next three years and its flexibility makes it very unique among the lot.
The program does not only prepare me to teach with different strategies but also, it will serve
as a preparatory ground to take leadership position such working as a District Curriculum
Officer and thereby lead other classroom teachers on how to implement theses effective
practices into their classrooms. I believe in the long run, taking this program would not only limit
to the classroom but would eventually improve my employability, qualify me for other roles
outside the classroom and enable me to earn more income.

Pursuing this advance degree would not only expand my view and practice as a teacher but also it
would open me up to new relationships as the U of S is well known for admitting students all
around the world. In Education, what we do as teachers goes a long way to affect the society, the
children we are responsible for molding deserves facilitators who strive for the best and it for this
reason I believe having access to quality education by the very efficient faculty of education
members of U of S is the next step in my profession development. I am a very hardworking,
motivated with a future career goal deepening my knowledge of curriculum studies and gain more
research experience both cooperative and individually. I look forward to satisfying the criteria
for admission and I am confident that I am a worthy candidate for this program and I would
work hard to be an asset to the department throughout my studies and beyond. Thank you for
considering my application.