|
Educational system to embrace
innovations in IT- Prof Tagoe
Legon, March. 22, GNA- Professor C.N.B Tagoe, Vice
Chancellor of the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, has
observed that any educational system “worth its salt” should
embrace innovations in Information Technology (IT).
The system, he said, would consequently come out with
products, who would be able to compete in the global world.
Prof Tagoe made the observation at the Ninth Senior High
School Symposium organized by the Legon branch of the Church
of Christ (CC) at the UG on Sunday.
The occasion had “Fifty Years of Education: The Way
Forward”, as its theme.
The Vice Chancellor urged government, as a matter of policy,
to bring Information, Communication Technology (ICT) to the
doorsteps of all educational institutions, with universal
access to the new technologies and lifelong teaching and
learning opportunities for all, regardless of location or
social standing.
He recalled that at independence, Ghana had one of the best
educational systems in sub-Saharan Africa, with basic and
secondary schools across the length and breadth of the
country, in addition to two university colleges, and large
number of training colleges, polytechnics, technical and
vocational institutions.
The system, the Vice Chancellor contended, worked well until
the second half of the 1970s when the educational system
became one of the major casualties of the general economic
decline facing the country.
Prof Tagoe pointed out that the ultimate result of all these
deficiencies was poor quality of teaching and learning, as
well as poor patronage of the school system by children of
school-going age.
He said it was regrettable to note that education in Ghana
today was at a crossroads, “still grappling with issues of
funding, access, quality, relevance, integration of science
and technology.”
The Vice Chancellor stated that the challenges facing the
educational sector in Ghana were such that, it should have
as its aim, the creation of well-balanced individuals with
the requisite skills, knowledge, values and aptitudes for
self-actualization, and for the socio-economic and political
transformation of the nation.
He suggested that, as the country reflected on 50 years of
education, and looked forward, efforts should be made to
improve upon “what we have been doing all these years, and
what can be done to improve upon the educational system.”
Prof Tagoe said not only should teachers be properly trained
and well motivated, but the classrooms and laboratories are
equipped, adding that, “while we turn out larger numbers of
students, we should also focus on the quality of education
we are offering them.”
He was of the view that some of the steps, which could be
taken to improve upon the quality of tertiary education in
the country, include providing students with specialized
skills and a general education that “encourages flexibility
and innovation and the ability to refresh their skills as
the economic environment changes.”
Mrs Frema Osei-Opare, Deputy Minister of Manpower, Youth and
Employment, reiterated that the National Youth Employment
Programme (NYEP), government’s initiative, sought to create
jobs for the teeming unemployed youth, to ultimately,
empower them to contribute meaningfully to the
socio-economic and sustainable development of the nation.
Mrs Osei-Opare advised students to take full advantage of
the numerous opportunities provided by ICT, and aspire to
attain great academic laurels.
Speaking on “The Psychological Impact of a New Education
Reform: Students’ Adjustment”, Dr Michael T Anim,
Psychologist and Counsellor, pointed out that the reforms in
education would not impact positively on students “if you
have not been adequately schooled in its aims, objectives
and philosophy”.
Dr Anim gave the assurance that the Church would continue to
teach and encourage Christian students to take full
advantage of every opportunity that government provided to
maximize their potential and become useful and responsible
adults.
Evangelist George Kingsley Abugah, a Minister of the Church,
said the symposium was instituted nine years ago to provide
a platform for students in high schools to appreciate the
need for a sustained and conscious effort to aspire for
higher academic laurels.
GNA
|
