Deputy Minister for Education Dr. Clement Apaak has reaffirmed that President John Dramani Mahama remains deeply committed to transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) into a primary driver of Ghana’s national development.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Dr. Apaak noted that the President’s recent remarks on technical education clearly demonstrate the government’s resolve to revolutionize the sector.
“This is yet another unambiguous confirmation of His Excellency’s commitment to making TVET education a conduit for national development,” Dr. Apaak stated.
He emphasized that the government is actively working to dismantle the long-standing stigma associated with technical and vocational paths, aiming to make them highly attractive to the youth.
“TVET education is not, and cannot be, treated as a second choice. We are repositioning it as a premier option,” Dr. Apaak stressed, adding that the era of looking down on technical training must come to an end. “The days when TVET was stigmatized and viewed as a last resort for less academically inclined students are long gone.”
The Deputy Minister’s comments follow President Mahama’s address at the 4th Biennial Applied Research Conference of Technical Universities in Takoradi.
During the event, the President outlined comprehensive plans to strengthen both STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and technical education across the country.
President Mahama charged technical universities with aligning their academic curricula with national policies that promote STEM fields.
To back this vision with resources, the President pledged GHS 10 million to each of the country’s ten public technical universities in the 2027 budget. This funding will target infrastructural expansion, modern laboratories, and the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment.
According to the President, this major investment will help technical universities fully realize the original objectives behind converting polytechnics into full-fledged universities.
“You must focus on hands-on, competence-based technical and vocational training modeled after the German system,” President Mahama urged conference attendees.
Additionally, the President announced plans to establish two new technical universities: one in Jasikan (Oti Region) and another in Techiman (Bono East Region).
These new institutions, alongside a proposed University of Science and Technology in the Savannah Region, are designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry while unlocking new avenues for innovation and youth employment.
“These new universities will serve as the bridge connecting the world of science with industry,” President Mahama concluded.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
