Ghana’s Ministry of Education (MoE) believes that our education system needs to equip graduates with relevant skills required to fully participate in the 4th industrial revolution.
Because of this, Government through the MoE is vigorously reforming the education system right from the basic to the tertiary level. Many of these reforms have prioritized Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Ghana currently has only 12% of SHS students enrolled in science disciplines and this figure is inadequate to achieve Government’s 60:40 Science: Humanities ratio in favor of the sciences.
Over the last 5 years, MoE has introduced a number of cutting edge reforms. Let me start with my favorite, which is one-year detailed Pre-Engineering Programme.
This Pre-Engineering programme is designed for SHS students with non-science backgrounds.
In addition, Government is constructing the Accra STEM Academy and STEM Senior High Schools across the country. Some of these new schools including the Bosomtwe Girls STEM SHS have been operationalized. Relevant 21st century courses like Data Literacy, Digital Literacy, Robotics and Computer Science will be taught in these STEM schools to train students for the labour market.
With the increasing demand for skilled labour across the globe, Government is heavily investing in the TVET sector. First, Government has made TVET education at the Senior High School free for all students. This has improved access to skill training for young people.
Government has also retooled various technical institutions across the country to enhance practical teaching and learning. MoE under the Government is also constructing 32 modern TVET centres to further encourage more youth to enroll in TVET institutions where they will be equipped with job skills.