The Mampong Technical College of Education is positioning itself as a leading centre for technical teacher education, with plans to equip every graduate with practical, industry-relevant skills in addition to their academic qualifications.
The initiative, dubbed “One Student, One Skill,” is part of a new strategic vision announced by the College’s Principal, Professor Ebenezer Agyemang-Badu, at the institution’s 18th Congregation and Investiture.
Professor Agyemang-Badu says the initiative is intended to produce graduates who can move beyond seeking jobs to creating opportunities for themselves and others.
“Every graduate of Mampong Technical College of Education will leave not only with a Bachelor of Education degree, but also with industry-relevant market skills,” he said.
The College is seeking accreditation from the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) to introduce competency-based programmes in computer software development, fashion design, welding and fabrication, electrical installation, solar panel installation, and industrial machine installation and maintenance.
The Principal believes the move could help address graduate unemployment while strengthening technical and vocational skills development in Ghana.
“These programmes are expected to change how apprenticeship training is conducted in Ghana and provide the needed skills for the youth to contribute meaningfully to economic development.”
Professor Agyemang-Badu has therefore appealed to COTVET to expedite the accreditation process.
He is also calling for support from government and development partners to equip the College’s workshops with modern machines and tools.
“Although basic equipment needed for the programmes exist, we are appealing to government and donor agencies to support us with modern workshop diagnostic machines and tools to support this noble initiative towards contributing to solving graduate unemployment and youth development.”
The Principal says the TVET expansion forms part of a broader plan to reposition Mampong Technical College as a competitive, research-focused institution.
His seven strategic priorities include improving teaching and learning, strengthening research, enhancing student support, improving governance, developing staff, diversifying revenue and deepening partnerships with industry and government.
“My vision as a principal of the college is to position Mampong Technical College of Education as a competitive research-focused institution for the advancement of TVET and teacher education for sustainable national development.”
But management says infrastructure remains a major challenge to the College’s expansion.
About five projects are currently at various stages of completion, including an administration block and a three-storey hostel facility funded by GETFund.
Some of the projects, however, have stalled over payment and approval challenges.
Professor Agyemang-Badu is appealing to government and the GETFund Administrator to intervene.
“We are appealing to the government and administrator of GETFund to make payment and approve the revision of estimates to enable the contractors to come back to site.”
The College is also seeking funding to complete a modern auditorium initiated through donations during its centenary anniversary.
Management is further calling for a review of the annual capping of internally generated funds, saying the restriction is affecting the pace of development.
The College is using its internally generated funds to construct a three-storey lecture hall, but management says budgetary restrictions are slowing the project.
“You have the money, the funds exist, but cannot spend because of budgetary capping.”
Professor Agyemang-Badu says the situation could eventually discourage higher education institutions from generating revenue to complement government funding.
Despite the challenges, the Principal says the transformation of the College will require collective effort.
He is calling on staff, students, alumni, government, industry and development partners to support the agenda.
For Mampong Technical College of Education, the ambition is to produce teachers who are not only academically qualified, but also equipped with practical skills to innovate, create jobs and contribute to Ghana’s economic development.
