Heads of some schools within the Awutu Senya East enclave say it is time to move from the grammarian form of education to the skill and technical-based education coupled with information technology.
This they believe will make the ordinary Ghanaian student innovation-inclined.
According to Alex Lavoe, Director for Panuel International School based in Opeikum in Kasoa, two things contribute to the Ghanaian student being innovation-inclined, adding that knowledge and skill cannot be left out if the Ghanaian student is to become innovative.
Over the years there have been calls for the enforcement of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) into the educational system with many believing that this is the solution to industrializing the country.
TVET has to do with training that will provide students with knowledge and skill related to occupation in various sectors of economic and social life through formal and non-informal methods in both school-based and work-based learning contexts, adding that this will curtail the over-reliance on government for jobs.
“Basically education is about two main things, knowledge and skill but in our part of the world, we see education to be the acquisition of grammar. We acquire knowledge but we cannot use the knowledge to develop ourselves. Education is supposed to help you empower and develop your society. So the introduction of TVET comes in handy” Director of Penuel International School Alex Lavoe told Citi News.
Speaking to Citi News at the 10th-anniversary celebrations of the school, Alex Lavoe emphasized the need to infuse TVET education into the basic school curriculum indicating that this will adequately prepare students for the task ahead.
He explained that students of Penuel International School through the introduction of TVET education have been able to develop a chemical that can kill mice and other insects instantly.
Another has been able to develop a formula where he is able to put Ice cubes together to generate air condition.
“We have a career guidance policy that encourages the students to exhibit what they have in them. We have science and maths week, crafty day where students put to use their skill and this is how come students from my school are able to develop a formula to kill insects,” Director for Penuel International School added.
The educationist noted that despite the positive things attracted to TVET education there are some obstacles that must be removed to allow for smooth running of the program from basic level to the tertiary level.
He explained that the secondary school curriculum where ICT is optional except for the student doing it as an elective subject must be changed since ICT has become an integral part of society.
“I have a problem with the secondary school curriculum where Information Communication Technology is optional except the student is doing it as an elective subject. As an educationist, I will want to see that ICT is compulsory because there is no way we can develop as a country [without it], “Alex Lavoe said.
Municipal Director of Education for Awutu Senya East, Faustina Alimatu Brimah who spoke at the anniversary celebration of the school says government is committed to ensuring that TVET education is encouraged in schools adding that government has decoupled TVET from the Ghana Education Service making it an autonomous body with a Director General and resourcing them to take their own part.
She noted that this is one of the plans by government to re-tool the educational sector from the grammarian form of education to skill and technical-based education.
“The beginning of this move is the decoupling of TVET education from Ghana Education Service making it an autonomous body with a Director General.”
“Government is resourcing them in terms of facilities that are needed to help promote TVET education.
Similarly, the introduction of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, STEM comes in handy to support TVET and it’s a plus,” Education Director for Awutu Senya East Faustina Alimatu Brimah said.