Osafo-Marfo urges bold steps to overhaul Ghana’s education

A former Education Minister, Mr. Yaw Osafo-Marfo, has called for bold steps to overhaul of the country’s education to make it relevant to the demands of the job market.

This, he said, was the way forward to tackle the growing unemployment among the youth.

He warned that the problem could worsen, if things continue to be done the same way.

Mr. Osafo-Marfo was speaking at the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Attafuah Senior High and Technical School in Akim-Oda.

The anniversary was held under the theme: “25 years of quality secondary and technical education delivery, its impact on national development”.

He underlined the importance of technical and vocational education and said more investment must be put into that.

“The lip service should end. We have to walk the talk”, he added.

Professor Emmanuel Kofi Gyimah of the University of Cape Coast said although there had been some effort by successive governments in terms of policy direction, more was required to fully develop technical vocational education and training (TVET) to meet the nation’s needs.

There should be a clear policy on the relationship between TVET and other sectors of the economyin order to effectively link it to other national strategies in the area of education and training at all levels, employment and socio-economic development.

He called for all to work together to make TVET an effective tool for Ghana’s industrialization.

Mr. Johnson Yeboah Gyekye, the Headmaster of the school, complained of inadequate infrastructure and cited the lack of teachers’ accommodation, administration and home economics blocks.

It now has a student population of 1,950 and he appealed for increased support to enhance teaching and learning.

Source: GNA