Dr. Essien lauds Ministry of Education’s TVET initiative to tackle unemployment

A lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Dr. Patrick Essien, says Ghana’s high unemployment rate could have been a thing of the past if Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) had been prioritized long ago.

Dr. Essien, who doubles as the Founder/President of Molex Foundation Africa, welcomed the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu and his Deputy, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak’s approach to prioritizing TVET in a bid to boost future employment.

He applauded the Education Ministry, led by Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, for deciding to rally behind TVET as a solution to unemployment in the future.

Reacting to the Minister’s statement that “TVET is the future,” Dr. Essien lamented that this realization should have come sooner. “If TVET had been prioritized earlier, unemployment wouldn’t be the problem it is today in Ghana,” he said.

However, Dr. Essien attributed the lack of appeal of TVET institutions to inadequate government investment, which discourages potential students.

To address this, Dr. Essien advised the Education Ministry to equip TVET schools with the necessary Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) and ensure accessible infrastructure for both students and teachers. This, he believes, would make TVET more effective and attractive.

Meanwhile, Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has stated that the President John Dramani Mahama-led administration is committed to STEM education.

In a Facebook post over the weekend, Vice President Opoku-Agyemang reiterated the need for industry to invest in and support the research that drives sustainable solutions.

“The government is strongly committed to STEM education, sustainable solutions, and deeper collaboration across borders.

“I therefore echoed the call of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama for institutions, academia, civil society, and industry to invest in and support the research that drives sustainable solutions”, Prof Jane Naana stated.

He continued: “I also congratulated the African Academy of Sciences and other partners for successfully organizing the event. To all the researchers, policy actors, students, and partners who participated: your ideas and contributions are vital in our shared mission to transform the continent through knowledge.”

STEM education, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is an interdisciplinary approach to learning that integrates these four fields to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation. It emphasizes real-world applications and hands-on learning to equip students with skills relevant to 21st-century careers.