The former Minister of Education Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has articulated a compelling vision for the relevance of education in Ghana’s socioeconomic transformation. He emphasized the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education as a crucial element in shaping the nation’s future workforce and industrialization.
Dr. Adutwum stressed the importance of aligning the education system with Ghana’s development goals. He asserted that education should not merely be about passing exams but should contribute to the nation’s transformation.
“When the education system is not relevant to the socioeconomic transformation of your country, it’s education to nowhere.”
Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum former Minister of Education
According to him, an effective education system should equip students with the skills to drive national progress.
He emphasized that the emphasis on STEM was to make sure that in this 21st century and Fourth Industrial Revolution, government creates a competitive economy that would change the fortunes of Ghana.
He highlighted the visible impact of STEM education, citing students engaging in robotics and drone technology. These initiatives, he explained, are part of a broader strategy to build the next generation workforce that will lead Ghana’s industrial transformation.
Comparing Ghana’s situation with Vietnam, Dr. Adutwum noted how Vietnam made significant strides in industrialization.
“Vietnam has 93 million population. They produce 100,000 engineers every year. Now Vietnam is the toast of East Asia. Every industrial giant is flocking to Vietnam.”
Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum former Minister of Education
He lamented Ghana’s low engineering output, stating that despite having a population of over 30 million, the country produces only 7,000 engineers annually. He argued that this number should be at least 30,000, given the growing importance of engineering fields such as software engineering.
Addressing concerns about the preparedness of educators to handle STEM subjects, Dr. Adutwum highlighted efforts made during his tenure to enhance teacher training.
“The current Director-General of Ghana Education Service, Professor Davis, was one person that I tasked to develop a Bachelor’s degree in STEM education at the University of Cape Coast.”
Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum former Minister of Education
He further revealed that two STEM colleges of education were established in Karaga and Tepa in the Ashanti Region to train the next generation of STEM teachers.
Challenges and Policy Implementation
On the broader issue of Ghana’s Free education policy, Dr. Adutwum emphasized the importance of equity in education. He recalled past policies that excluded many students from secondary education due to cut-off grades.
“Every year, the Ministry or the Ghana Education Service would take a look at how many spaces were available in secondary schools. And then based on that, they will set the aggregate that qualifies you to enter a public senior high school.”
Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum former Minister of Education
He explained how this system disadvantaged many students, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds. To address this, the government introduced the Free Senior High School policy to ensure that every child, regardless of background, had access to quality education.
Dr. Adutwum rejected the notion that the Free SHS policy was riddled with challenges, arguing instead that it presented unprecedented opportunities for Ghanaian youth.
“You cannot overlook the benefit and then jump to the challenges. When you look at these youth and what they were doing, coming from backgrounds that they couldn’t have had a chance, now they had a chance.”
Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum former Minister of Education
He cited instances where students with initially low scores improved significantly through interventions provided in the Free SHS program.
“A number of schools will tell you stories of students who came with 30 and ended with less than a year 10 on the WASSCE. Because it’s not because they were not smart, but because of the lack of preparation for the exams.”
Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum former Minister of Education
Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum’s remarks underscore the need for an education system that aligns with national development goals.
He passionately advocated for STEM education as a vehicle for economic transformation and called for increased investment in training teachers, expanding infrastructure, and ensuring equal opportunities for all students. His vision remains a crucial blueprint for Ghana’s educational and industrial future.
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