The Education Ministry has announced the government of Ghana’s commitment to promoting Technical, Vocational, and Training (TVET) to equip the country’s youth to be self-reliant.
This was made known by the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, who read an address on behalf of the sector Minister at the grand durbar of the 25th anniversary of the Bolgatanga Technical University.
Speaking at the event, which was held under the theme “25 years of sustainable TVET, Development: journeying to technological advancement,” Dr. Apaak noted that the John Dramani Mahama-led administration would roll out the Comprehensive Technical, Vocational, and Training Transformation Agenda.
This would cover funding and improvement of TVET education, enterprise development, job creation, and TVET instructor development. The agenda would also include the upgrading of technical universities by modernizing laboratories, workshops, and classrooms to meet international standards.
It would also entail the encouragement of technical institutions to form partnerships with industries to give students a real-world experience and promote and expand access to digital learning platforms.
Dr. Apaak further announced that the government would increase support for students in technical-related fields and the provision of incubation centers to help graduates transition into self-employment.
“The government, through the Ministry of Education, is committed to bridging these gaps by increasing investment in technical universities, improving research capacity, and expanding internship and apprenticeship opportunities through strategic partnerships with industries,” Dr. said.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to implement the No Free Stress initiative which would take care of the fees for first-year students of public tertiary institutions.
“Recognising the importance of student welfare, this government is also committed to improving the overall student experience in technical universities. We understand that for students to excel, they must have access to affordable accommodation, reliable transportation, quality healthcare services, and financial aid programs.”
“To this end, we plan to implement: The no-Academic-Fee Policy (No-Fees-Stress Initiative): An amount of GH¢499.8 million has been allocated to cover the no-academic fees for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions. Enhanced Student Loan Scheme: We will increase accessibility and efficiency of student loan disbursement to ensure that no student drops out due to financial constraints.”
Dr. Appak pledged to donate 10,000 cedis in support of ongoing efforts to construct a lecture theater.
