Minister wants review of teaching models in universities

The inability the country’s graduates to creatively manufacture products calls for a review of teaching models and methods at the tertiary level, says Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation. He has described as unacceptable the situation where almost every product is imported whilst the 130 universities in the country churn out graduates who should be driving product development. “We have about 130 universities in the country and if we are still having problems with the things that we do to build our industries and also keep importing everything in the country, then there must be something wrong with the way we teach and acquire knowledge,” he observed. Professor Frimpong-Boateng was addressing participants of the 1st International Conference on Competency-Based Training and Research at University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi campus. He hinted the Ministry of Education is fashioning out programmes to promote Competency-Based Training at every level of education. “Education is supposed to equip us with things that we have to do to solve our problems in transportation, health, sanitation, water supply, and food security among other things. So if we are still unable to solve these problems, then we are not acquiring the right skills”, he said.

The 3-day conference brought together academics, researchers, administrators and other stakeholders in education to disseminate and share ideas on the need to enhance Competency-Based Training and Research. Acting Vice Chancellor of University of Education, Winneba, Reverend Professor Anthony Afful-Broni, called for a paradigm shift in the delivery of technical and vocational education if it is to impact meaningfully on the socio-economic development of Ghana. “Ghana is yearning for technological development against the backdrop of many TVET graduates increasingly finding it difficult to secure employment amidst concerns of their lack of employable skills,” he said. Professor Afful-Broni is of the view that, a shift from the present mode of delivery of TVET programmes to CBT mode of delivery will eliminate skill gaps, a situation where trainees will be equipped with skills needed by the industry”. The international conference, on the theme “Building the Next Generation of Technologists: The CBT Paradigm”, drew participants from Australia, China, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. By Ibrahim Abubakar|editors.3news.com|Ghana