The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has appealed to government to provide necessary resources and facilities to the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) to fulfil its mandate.
He said Technical and Vocational education is the way to go now.
According to him, equipping the university is important to fostering creativity and innovation, which are essential for job creation and addressing the escalating unemployment crisis not only in Ghana but also globally.
At the investiture ceremony of Prof. Frederick Kwaku Sarfo as the Foundation Vice-Chancellor of AAMUSTED in Kumasi, the Asantehene touched on the significant role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country’s development.
He lauded the government’s initiative for elevating the Kumasi and Asante Mampong campuses into a fully-fledged universities after years of advocacy.
The AAMUSTED, previously known as the College of Technology Education Kumasi (COLTEK) under the University of Education, Winneba, was established on August 27, 2020, by an Act of Parliament (Act 1026, 2020). Additionally, the Mampong campus, which focuses on agricultural education, was formerly referred to as the College of Agriculture Education (CAGRIC).
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II expressed his gratitude to President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government for their bold decision in establishing AAMUSTED.
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He acknowledged the efforts and work of the University’s Council, management, staff, and students, and regarded the appointment of Prof. Sarfo as a vote of confidence.
The Asantehene appealed to Prof. Sarfo to continue his diligent work and emphasised the importance of faculty capacity building, regular program reviews, joint research, and relevance of programmes, products, and faculty in addressing national and global needs and challenges.
Prof. Frederick Kwaku Sarfo in his inaugural address emphasised that Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and TVET are not fundamentally different.
He underscored the need for the country to reject underestimating TVET and STEM.
The University’s commitment lies in equipping individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills in teaching TVET, as quality TVET teachers are pivotal to achieving high-quality TVET in the country.
Prof. Sarfo proposed the teaching of TVET and STEM in local languages at the basic education level to enhance students’ understanding and comprehension.
The Deputy Minister of Education, in charge of Technical and Vocational Education, Gifty Twum Ampofo, reiterated government’s commitment to transforming the educational sector and promotion of job creation through technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
According to her, through TVET, government intended to enhance the skills and compentences of the youth for the world of work.
“Job and its complimentary skills set are changing, as such, there’s the need to build the compentences and skills of the country’s workforce to meet these changing times,” she said.
She said government has invested heavily in the sector to promote quality education.
By Benjamin Aidoo|AkomaFM|Onuaonline.com
