Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum
The Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, says the 2022 budget read last week is a game-changer as far as the transformation of the education sector is concerned.
He explained that a successful implementation of the fiscal policy would lead to what he called swift transformation of the economy through education.
He said the budget has targeted the training of the right human capital needed for the 4th industrial revolution in the country.
Speaking on Hello FM in Kumasi on Tuesday, Dr. Adutwum who was in the Ashanti Region on a two-day tour explained how the budget is going to sponsor the education sector and how President Akufo-Addo is determined to turn the education sector around for accelerated development.
Project Specifics
Dr. Adutwum, who is a Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, said the budget made provisions for the construction of 35 Science, Technical, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) SHSs across the country which would bring about a sharp increase in the teaching and learning of various science-based courses.
He mentioned for instance that 11 out of 35 STEM SHSs which were at the various completion stages would be operationalised in the next academic year, saying their operationalisation will impact positively on the development of the country as it will train personnel for the industries springing up as part of the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative.
The Education Minister again announced the construction of 21st Century Model Junior High Schools in selected urban areas across the country.
Apart from the model JHS, he also mentioned the provisions in the budget for the retooling of all science laboratories in SHS across the country, and upgrading and enhancement of Technical and Vocational institutions.
Dr. Adutwum said currently the number of students pursuing sciences at both the senior high and the tertiary education levels are inadequate and has affected the manpower needs for some of the sectors which held the key to the swift development of every country.
Six STEM Universities
The Education Minister again mentioned that the 2022 budget also made provision for the commencement of the construction of six new STEM-related universities in all the six new regions across the country.
This, according to him, would ensure that all regions in the country have been provided with at least a public university to ensure a balance in the provision of education for all across the country.
Dr. Adutwum hinted at plans to recruit more teachers for the teaching of STEM subjects across the country next year for effective teaching, development and implementation of the STEM initiative.
“We cannot be left out of the 4th industrial revolution, it is time for us to be part of the global development drive for industrial growth and national development,” he said.
He talked about how the budget has been designed to ensure that the remuneration of players in the education sector is not truncated.