Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Education Minister
President Akufo-Addo has touted his government’s achievements in education, asserting that the major investments made in the sector is shaping the future of the country’s education.
According to him, this will guarantee excellent outcomes in the short, medium to long term for the country.
He stated that his administration has made systematic investments in the industry for the past six years and 10 months since taking office, and the evidence and beneficial effects of these efforts are already visible to all.
The President made these remarks at the opening ceremony of the 61st annual conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) in Accra yesterday.
As a nation which aims to transform itself into a modern productive player in the global market, the President said Ghana must get its educational policies right, an important factor he said no part of the country or segment of the society denies.
“We have all accepted that education is the best route to moving out of poverty. This is because the nations that have made rapid progress around the world have all put education at the heart of their development,” he insisted, whilst noting with emphasis that “the United States of America did it over a century ago, as did Japan, Britain did it eighty years (80) years ago, and the nations that we started life with, over sixty (60) years ago, like Korea, Malaysia and Singapore have all done it. We must follow suit.”
“Together with you, members of CHASS, the Akufo-Addo Government is shaping the future of education in Ghana for excellence in its outcomes. This is not just a project, it is a movement, a transformation, and a promise for a brighter, digitally empowered tomorrow. I express my deepest gratitude to all stakeholders, educators, parents, and communities who have contributed to this wonderful journey.
“We are, indeed, shaping a brighter future for Mother Ghana, where the Ghanaian people will witness a flowering of Ghanaian civilisation, which will ensure that every Ghanaian child, no matter their economic, ethnic, gender, regional or religious background, will have ready access to quality education comparable to anywhere in the world. The Black Star is going to sparkle,” President Akufo-Addo added.
Kindergarten
At the kindergarten school level, President Akufo-Addo observed that his government has invested significantly in teachers, equipping them with modern methodologies tailored for early childhood development. He added that his administration has also provided age-appropriate learning materials, play equipment, and resources for interactive and engaging learning experiences.
“Through GETFund, we are executing one thousand, two hundred and seventy (1,270) infrastructure interventions, setting new standards for early childhood education.
“These schools boast cutting-edge technology, including smart boards, to enhance interactive learning experiences. I am pleased to report that a substantial number of these projects are nearing completion, and, by early 2024, they will be fully operational,” the President noted.
Primary/JHS
In primary and junior high schools, the government, he said, has focused a substantial number of its interventions on empowering teachers through extensive training and capacity building.
Apart from that, he said the administration has ensured the consistent provision of learning materials and embarked on targeted infrastructure upgrades to create conducive learning environments.
“The implementation of National Standardised Tests for Primary 2 and Primary 4 pupils is a pivotal step towards assessing and improving learning outcomes. It is gratifying to note that proficiency in reading for Primary 2 students has seen a significant improvement, from two percent (2%) in 2015 to thirty-eight percent (38%) in 2022,” President Akufo-Addo remarked.
“To uphold the integrity of examinations, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the West African Examinations Council, has instituted serialisation of examination papers for BECE and WASSCE, deterring cheating and malpractices. This ensures that examination results are a true reflection of students’ knowledge and abilities.
“Our Model Junior High Schools project, supported by the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, aims to strengthen the lower secondary level of education. Eleven (11) model schools are currently under construction, each designed with modern amenities to provide an optimal learning environment,” he further remarked.
SHS Level
At the Senior High School level, in tandem with the National Digital Literacy Project, the President observed that the e-Transform Ghana project stands as a beacon of progress. With an investment of ninety-seven million United States dollars (US$97 million), the President said, is enhancing service delivery through ICT.
“Among its many facets, the e-Education component promises to establish computer laboratories in three hundred and five (305) public Senior High Schools in all the regions of the country. These labs will be equipped with cutting-edge technology, fostering an environment where students can immerse themselves in the digital realm.
“As we open tender tomorrow, on October 12, for the equipment in the remaining two hundred and thirty-two (232) Senior High Schools, and with contracts already signed for seventy-three (73), we are well on our way to bridging the digital divide,” the President stated.
“Our commitment to every student’s journey into the Fourth Industrial Revolution is unflinching. The “One Student One Tablet” initiative is evidence of our belief in the transformative power of technology. By repositioning our educational system, we are nurturing a generation of empowered Ghanaians armed with the skills essential for our economic prosperity.
“In partnership with the Ministry of Communications and with support from the World Bank, we have birthed the Ghana Skills and Knowledge Bank (GSKB). This centralised hub is poised to revolutionise access to educational resources, offering a plethora of content curated to align with our national curriculum,” the President added.
TVET Education
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), in the President’s estimation, has seen a comprehensive modernisation and expansion drive. New state-of-the-art facilities, he said, are under construction, whilst existing ones are undergoing renovation and upgrading.
He also pointed out that the Dual TVET Method, combining classroom learning with practical, on-the-job training, is revolutionising skills development in the country, ensuring learners are well-prepared for their chosen fields.
“A comprehensive review of TVET curricula has also been undertaken to align them with current industry demands and emerging technologies. This process involved collaboration with industry stakeholders to identify the skills and competencies needed for a rapidly evolving job market. The revised curricula aim to equip students with practical, job-ready skills that are in high demand,” the President stated.
STEM Education
In the area of STEM education, President Akufo-Addo indicated that it has become the cornerstone of progress and innovation in the modern world. STEM, he said, the world over, is being used to equip the youth with the critical skills needed to navigate an increasingly technology-driven global landscape.
He, therefore, noted that it is the goal of his government to position Ghana as a leader in STEM education and innovation on the African continent.
“The percentage of General Science students in our schools has been some twelve percent (12%) for some time. I am happy to state that the percentage, this year, has risen to some fifteen percent (15%), and it is expected to increase even further to some twenty-four percent (24%) in 2024.
It is for this reason he indicated that the government is creating a STEM pipeline to increase STEM enrolment at tertiary education level, through pre-engineering programmes.
The pre-engineering programme has been introduced to target Senior High School graduates in General Arts, Visual Arts and Business.
“The one-year pre-university programme, launched in February 2022, has admitted its second cohort of students. The objective is to increase the talent pool from which engineers can be selected to ensure the number of engineering graduates, that is First Degree and Higher National Diploma, increases from the current six thousand, five hundred (6,500) to thirty thousand (30,000) by 2030,” President Akufo-Addo said.
At the Senior High School level, increasing enrolment in STEM has been made possible by operationalising four (4) newly constructed STEM Model Schools, and converting three (3) existing schools into STEM Model Schools.
The Ghana STEM Academy Schools are Abomosu STEM Academy, Awaso STEM Academy, Kpasenkpe STEM Academy, Bosomtwi Girls STEM Academy, Bosomtwi STEM Academy, Accra High School STEM Centre, and Koase Secondary Technical School.
These schools have been equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms, dormitories, assembly halls, dining halls and conducive environments to foster teaching and learning.
So far, 2,400 students have enrolled to study General Science and STEM in the seven (7) schools.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent