By Franklin Asare-Donkoh
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has urged management and administrators of technical universities to ensure that hands-on skills are central to their academic delivery, to better prepare graduates for the job market.
He explained that while the government is committing additional resources to reform Ghana’s education system, institutions of higher learning are expected to work closely with industry to develop transformational curricula that will strengthen the economy and improve standards of living.
The minister’s call was delivered in a speech read on his behalf at the 22nd Congregation of Koforidua Technical University (KTU) in Koforidua over the weekend.
The Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Smile Dzisi, who read the speech, explained that the government’s reset agenda aims to make education not only accessible and inclusive but also more meaningful and impactful.
According to Professor Dzisi, the agenda places strong emphasis on developing employable skills, promoting innovative enterprises, and advancing excellence in human capital both locally and internationally.
“It is expected that our institutions of higher learning will collaborate with industry in leading the conversation on transformational curricula needed to leapfrog the country into a stronger economy and a better standard of living. I challenge Koforidua Technical University, and by extension all technical universities, to place employable skills and hands-on practical entrepreneurship at the core of their education delivery,” the minister stated.
Addressing the graduands, the Vice-Chancellor of KTU, Professor John Owusu, urged them to apply the practical knowledge and skills acquired to solving real-life problems in their communities.
“The challenges of the world are waiting for your solutions. Your wealth, success, reputation, and fame are hidden in the challenges around you, and it is by providing solutions that you unlock them,” he told the graduates.
The ceremony, held under the theme “Technical Education for Innovation, Employability and Global Competitiveness,” saw a total of 3,011 students graduate in various programmes.
