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“Carefully recruit Technical University teachers to achieve vision of CBT”
The Deputy Minister in-charge of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Mrs Gifty Twum-Ampofo has called for a careful recruitment and training of technical university teachers to take up the vision of Competency-Based Training (CBT).
She said the kind of qualifications required for one to qualify for teaching in the technical universities must be more than obtaining a second university degree at the PhD level and added that such groups of teachers must appreciate that they were under obligation to produce task-oriented graduates.
“It is not enough engaging the right kind of staff but such staff must undertake periodic re-orientation in the face of the fast-changing technological environment,” she stated.
Mrs Gifty Twum-Ampofo was speaking in Koforidua at the 20th graduation ceremony of the Koforidua Technical University on the theme: Embracing New Technologies and Creative Thinking to Drive Positive Change.”
2, 398 graduated during the ceremony and were awarded with degrees and diplomas in various disciplines.
Mrs Twum-Ampofo stated that currently, one must obtain a minimum of a Master’s degree to become a lecturer in a technical university, adding that all they needed to do was to register with any university to obtain that qualification.
“The question is, have the universities been doing anything different to be able to turn out teachers with the requisite hands-on, task-oriented qualification that the Technical Universities so need to train their students?” she asked.
She stated that if the present crop of Technical University teachers were trained the way it was being done, “it is not likely that the achievable targets of CBT would be realized.
Mr Twum-Ampofo explained that there was a need for a thorough re-orientation of all technical university lecturers for practical, task-oriented and re-training to be able to fulfil the objectives of the CBT concepts.
She said the development of the TVET and technological education at the tertiary level may be elusive if not backed with collaborative efforts of the training institutions, technical universities and industry.
That, she said required the integration of knowledge and professional skills requirement in the curricula of technical universities, and technical vocational institutions.
“Practical attachment and exposure, and internship schemes are among the best ways in which TVET education can prepare graduates for the world of work and life,” she said.
She congratulated the graduates and hoped that their training would be an opening of a brighter future for them and their families.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the KTU, Professor Samuel Apori said the government has made a massive investment in human, material and monetary resources for TVET to bridge the gap between academia and TVET.
He said the government’s effort was helping to confront equality among various persons either academic or vocational and technical programmes at secondary and technical institutions, to bring transformation in the livelihood of the Ghanaian populace, and hoped that management and other stakeholders in the designated technical universities, secondary schools would not defeat government’s laudable technical and vocational training.
For his part, the New Vice Chancellor of the Koforidua Technical University (KTU), Professor John Owusu stated that the University still faced infrastructural challenges and appealed to the government for a special GetFund allocation to younger technical universities to leapfrog their development and enable them to increase access to more prospective students in the region.
He also appealed to the municipal assemblies in the New Juaben Municipality to provide resources to help in the provision of infrastructure and academic facilities for the university.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
The Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called for stronger action to promote gender equity and create more opportunities for women in the workplace.
She made the call in a Facebook post after joining staff at the Presidency of Ghana to mark International Women’s Day.
The celebration was held under the theme “From Commitment to Action: Promoting Equity for Every Woman in the Workplace” and focused on recognising the achievements of women while reflecting on the work needed to ensure equal opportunities.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang extended warm wishes to women across Ghana and noted that women have always played key roles in the country’s communities and economic activities.
According to her, women in the past served as healers, traders and queen mothers who contributed to leadership and governance in traditional societies.
She explained that Ghana’s cultural history shows that women have long provided knowledge, leadership and innovation to help develop communities.
The Vice President however noted that current disparities require society to examine systems and structures that may have limited opportunities for women.
She stressed that advancing gender equity will require deliberate actions and the mentoring of young women to prepare them for leadership roles.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang recognised women whose work takes place in markets, streets and small trading spaces across the country.
According to her, these women form the backbone of local economies and continue to demonstrate resilience despite the difficult conditions they face.
She commended women working at the Presidency for their dedication and leadership and reaffirmed the need to promote respect, fairness and opportunity for every woman.
The Vice President further called on both men and women to work together to break barriers and ensure that women can fully contribute to Ghana’s development.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
