Osafo Maafo inspects a guard of honour
Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has disclosed that government is embarking on major reforms to reposition Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) in Ghana.
He said government, which would be guided by best practices from countries such as Germany and Singapore that have globally acclaimed TEVET system, has set up a committee under his chairmanship.
The committee’s mandate, among others, is to come up with an implementation plan to identify the resource gaps to enable them to budget properly.
He explained that the reforms would primarily result in the migration of all the 282 TEVET institutions, which is spread across 19 ministries, departments and agencies, to the Ministry of Education (MoE).
A new Director General (DG) in-charge of TEVET Services will be appointed for effective coordination, regulation, harmonization, standardization and quality of instructions, training and teaching.
It is a well-known fact that the lack of coordination has over the years contributed to the multiplicity of standards, testing requirements, certification and other related challenges, he mentioned.
At the 60th anniversary of St Paul’s Technical School (SPATS) at Kukrantumi in the Eastern Region over the weekend, the Senior Minister averred that technical and vocational education is the bedrock for industrialization of the country.
The Senior Minister stated that TEVET in the country has not received the needed attention over the years.
“Grammar education has taken the centre stage of our education system to the neglect of TEVET which is poorly funded and has become less attractive.”
The theme for the celebration was, ‘Technical/Vocation Education; A holistic and Pragmatic Solution for Sustainable National Development.’
Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo explained that government was providing the enabling support system to nurture them for accelerated national development, stressing that TEVET has never been intended for dropouts.
The Vice Chancellor of Koforidua Technical University, Prof Smile Gavua Dzisi regretted that TEVET institutions in the country have received little attention over the years.
TEVET education of global standards is relatively expensive, but has corresponding benefits for the country, adding that Ghana can no longer afford to be left out, the Vice Chancellor revealed.
The Principal of SPATS, Benjamin Adjabeng, reiterated the importance of TEVET to the development of any country.
Mr Adjabeng stated that the school, whose current population is about 1,128 with staff strength of more 50, is bedeviled with numerous challenges.
The Chief of Kukrantumi, Daasebre Boamah Darko II lauded government for rolling out a number of programmes which would lead to wealth creation and job opportunities for the people.
He pledged to donate land to government for the development of the area.
By Solomon Ofori