As part of drive to grow education infrastructure in Ghana, the government has secured $100 million from the China Exim Bank to upgrade infrastructure, equipment and other training materials for technical universities and institutes in the country.
This was made public by the Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, who explained that the fund was part of new drive to transform most technical universities and training institutes within the first quarter of 2019.
Explaining more at the Third Congregation Ceremony of the Takoradi Technical University (TTU) weekend under the theme: “Technical Education in the Context of the Present National Development Agenda: The Role of Technical Universities,” Dr Opoku-Prempeh noted that human development remains a key prerogative in the scheme of things of the present government.
Business Hilights recalls that currently in Nigeria, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had been on strike in the last four weeks to press for improved infrastructure and associated funding of universities following breaches by the federal government over agreements reached on the issues some years ago.
Investigations on efforts at resolving the impasse showed that no success is in view yet as dialogues between the parties have been deadlocked.
Giving details of grandaunts at the TTU, the Minister averred that “In all 2,027 students graduated, with 1,432 of them obtaining Higher National Diploma (HND) and 445 graduated with Bachelor of Technology Degrees”.
“Of the number, 148 were Civil Engineering graduands who received HND’s competence-based training certificate from the National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations.
According to Dr Opoku-Prempeh, “The Government was undertaking several reforms including international funding to improve learning outcomes and ensure their relevance and linkage to industry needs”.
“There are reforms in Technical and Vocational Education and Training and soon would have a five-year strategic plan for the sector. The success or otherwise of these reforms will depend largely on the technical universities,” he added.
He stressed that with the advent of technology driven economies and business activities, “The global market has become very competitive and only those with the experience can stand the test of time and called on instructors and facilitators to provide students with skills to compete favourably”.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Vice Chancellor of TTU, Reverend Professor John Frank Eshun, said the University was poised to positioning itself as a preferred centre of technical education in the sub-region, hinting that “A Five-Year Strategic Plan was launched in 2016 to serve as a road map towards attaining the vision of the University”.
