By Ayisah Foster, Editor In-chief
The Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has described the 2022 budget read recently by the Finance Minister as a game-changer for the transformation of the nation’s education sector.
He explained that a successful implementation of the fiscal policy to the nation would lead to a swift transformation of the nation’s economy through education since it could lead to the training of the right human capital needed for the 4th industrial revolution in the country.
Dr Adutwum announced this when he spoke on Fox Fm, a local radio station in Kumasi on Tuesday.
The Education Minister spent some minutes on the afternoon programme dubbed “Ebob)ba” hosted by K K where he explained in detail the education component of the 2022 budget to the nation.
Dr Adutwum was in the Ashanti region on a two days tour where he engaged various radio stations to explain the education bit of the recently announced fiscal policy for the nation.
Some of the radio stations he visited were Garden City Radio, Otec Fm, Wuntumi radio, Hello FM and Oyerepa radio all in the Kumasi Metropolis.
He commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the massive support to the education sector to turn things around for the good of the nation.
Project specifics
Dr Adutwum who is a Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe spoke about the provisions in the budget for the construction of 35 Science, Technical, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) SHSs across the country which would bring about a sharp increase in the teaching and learning of various science-based courses in the country.
He mentioned for instance that 11 out of 35 STEM SHSs which were at the various completion stages will be operationalized next academic year, saying their operationalization will impact positively on the development of the country through education as it will train personnel for industries across the country.
The Education Minister again announced the construction of twenty 21st Century Model Junior High Schools in selected urban areas across the country.
Apart from the model JHS, he also mentioned the provisions in the budget for the retooling of all science laboratories in SHS across the country, upgrading and enhancement of Technical and Vocational institutions.
Dr Adutwum lamented the number of students pursuing sciences at both the senior high and the tertiary education levels since that affected the manpower needs for the sector which held the key to the swift development of every country.
Six STEM Universities
The Education Minister again mentioned that the 2022 budget also made provision for the commencement of the construction of six new STEM-related Universities in all the six new regions across the country.
This, according to him would ensure that all regions in the country have been provided with at least a University to ensure a balance in the provision of education for all across the country.
Dr Adutwum hinted at plans to recruit more teachers for the teaching of STEM subjects across the country next year for effective teaching, development and implementation of the STEM initiative.
“We cannot be left out of the 4th industrial revolution, it is time for us to be part of the global development drive for industrial growth and national development”. He said.
