By Samuel AKAPULE
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has highlighted the government’s commitment to upgrading all technical universities in the country to improve the teaching and learning of vocational and technical education.
“Enhancing technical, vocational education and training (TVET) in Ghana would help to churn more youth graduates for industries while the rest turn into entrepreneurs to contribute their quota to the nation’s development,” he said.
“Given that, the government would invest in the technical universities by improving the infrastructure and establishing modern laboratories, workshops and classrooms to meet international standards,” he added.
Additionally, he mentioned that the government has observed that technical universities across the country continue to face infrastructure deficit, funding constraint and limited access to modern teaching and learning equipment; hence this intervention.
Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Abass Apaak, who represented the sector minister at the 25th anniversary of the Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) held at the main campus of the university in Sumbrungu, made these remarks.
He said the intervention would also target building the capacity of lecturers and faculty members’ capacity to enhance and improve on teaching and learning of technical and vocational as well as research.
The minister stressed that the intervention would also create a congenial atmosphere for the technical universities to forge stronger collaboration with industries to help equip students with the requisite skills needed for the job market.
The government, he noted, would also promote digital and technological integration where students in technical universities would be trained and equipped with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills.
According to him, plans are also far advanced to increase scholarship opportunities for students in technical universities, particularly those pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to pursue their education, adding that innovative students would also be provided with financial support and business incubation centres to boost their skills and knowledge.
He indicated that there is also a continuously growing demand to expand the scope in circular alignment with industry to help ensure that graduates are well equipped with relevant up-to-date skills needed for the job industry.
“Government will address these challenges thoroughly by rolling out comprehensive programmes at the respective technical and vocational education to complement government transformational agenda,” he stated.
“Already, academic fee of GH₵499.8million captured in the 2025 budget would soon be released to all public tertiary institutions in the country,” he stressed.
He commended BTU for its 25th anniversary celebration and stated that since its establishment, it has remained a beacon of TVET in Ghana, shaping the future of the youth and contributing immensely to national development
He observed that BTU has equipped many students with the requisite technical, entrepreneurship and professional skills necessary to drive industrialisation and economic progress in Ghana.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Alnaa, stated that the university – which began with few students – has now thousands of students; and pledged that the university would continue to deliver on its mandate.
The occasion, which was under the theme ‘Celebrating 25 Years of Technical Education: Impact, Challenges and Prospects’, attracted many stakeholders – including traditional leaders; and was also used to showcase products manufactured by the students.
