The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has hinted at plans for the country to pilot the dual education system next academic year in some selected Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in the country.
He explained that the dual system would allow TVET students to dedicate almost equal time to learning at school as well as spend time with industry for their internship, so they would be well equipped with the requisite skills before graduating from school.
Dr Adutwum gave the hint on Monday when he visited the headquarters of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Accra.
The meeting was part of the Minister’s annual interaction with Faith-Based Organizations in the country to share ideas and interact with them on government initiatives on education in the country.
He mentioned that the Education Ministry and other stakeholders in the sector were doing everything possible to transform the education sector to match the current market demand as well as drive the nation’s transformation drive.
Commendation
The Education Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, praised the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for its role towards the development of the nation’s education and other socio-economic development.
“It is worth noting that we are not only producing students from our schools but training an assertive and critical thinking youth who would soon take over the leadership roles of the country”, he said.
Success story
Dr Adutwum announced that the nation is winning the war against examination malpractices with the introduction of serialisation by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in all examinations organised by them.
The Education Minister stated that the recently held Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the country had every district writing a different set of questions with the same difficulty and understanding, which he said was one of the ways of winning the war against examination malpractice in the country.
He announced plans to meet all Education Ministers in the West African region soon to decide on the extension of the serialisation system into all examinations organised by the WAEC.
This, according to Dr Adutwum, would help improve the reputation and credibility of WAEC since the fair state of the examination would force students to study hard and they would not have any hope of cheating during the exams.
He spent time recounting the various enumerated the various interventions and initiatives being executed in the education sector towards the transformation of the nation’s development.
Appreciation
The Right Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, described the Dr Adutwum as a visionary leader who understands the education sector and urged him to continue working very hard towards getting the best for the nation.
He pledged the leadership of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana towards the transformation agenda of the government.
The Moderator appealed to the government to have a second look at how best to engage the services of parents towards the development of education in the country.
Ghana’s education receiving the right
The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has, in another development, announced that the nation’s education sector was receiving the right direction and support towards the transformation of the nation’s socioeconomic development.
He explained that the current retooling of educational institutions, policy directions, expansion of school projects, the building of new schools, introduction of new curricula and the provision of resources to teachers and other staff of educational institutions were among the measures being put in place by the government to get the best for the nation.
Dr Adutwum gave the hint when he commissioned the ultra-modern Accra STEAM centre (a well-resourced facility meant for the teaching and learning of STEAM courses) located at the Accra High School.
The new facility stocked with robotics equipment and other modern electronics devices is one out of twenty such facilities being constructed nationwide by the government.
The Education Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe stated that the government was keen at providing the right direction and resources towards the teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related courses which held the magic wand for the transformation of the nation’s development.
Dr Adutwum indicated that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is passionate towards the teaching and learning of STEM-related courses hence the massive boost and support towards the education space.
He called on students to take a keen interest in the study of STEM courses since it could help shape the fortunes of the nation’s future.
The Director General (DG) of the Ghana Education Service (GES),Dr Eric Nkansah, applauded the Israeli government for its support towards the construction of the centre which would go a long way towards the development of education in the country.
He was upbeat that the construction of the remaining 19 other centres would go a long way towards increasing access to the teaching and learning of STEM-related courses in Senior High Schools across the country.
By Felix Baidoo
