Gov’t to fix challenges confronting Technical Universities 

The Ministry of Education (MoE) says the government is committed to bridging the gaps confronting technical universities across the country.

Reading a statement on behalf of the sector minister Haruna Iddrisu at the grand durbar of the 25th anniversary celebration of Bolgatanga Technical University, Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Apaak stated that the government will strategically partner industries to achieve this end.

“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.

“To address these challenges, the John Dramani Mahama government will be rolling out a comprehensive Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Transformation Agenda, in the following ways; funding and improving TVET education, enterprise development and job creation, and TVET instructor development. Among others, it is aimed at:

1. Upgrading Technical University Facilities: This will involve modernizing laboratories, workshops, and classrooms to meet international standards.
2. Enhancing Instructor Capacity: We will achieve this by providing training and capacity-building programs for faculty members to improve teaching methodologies and research output.
3. Strengthening Industry-Academia Linkages: In this regard, we will encourage more partnerships between universities and industries to ensure that students receive practical, real-world experience.
4. Promoting Digital and Technological Integration: To ensure this, we will expand access to digital learning platforms and equipping students with ICT skills to enhance innovation.
5. Expanding Scholarship Opportunities: To this end, we will increase government support for students in technical fields, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
6. Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Innovation: We will actualize this by providing financial support, incubation centers, and mentorship programs to help graduates transition into self-employment.

Dr. Apaak further stated “Additionally, under our new policy initiatives, we plan to ensure that students in technical universities have access to well-equipped training centers, scholarships for STEM-related fields, and support for start-ups and entrepreneurial ventures to enable graduates to create their own opportunities.”