Embrace new technologies in schools - Prof. Adinkra-Appiah to stakeholders

The VICE Chancellor of the Sunyani Technical University (STU), Professor Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, has underscored the need for the country to focus on sustainability, innovation, skills training through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and inclusiveness in the country’s educational landscape. 

He said embracing new technologies in schools, adopting sustainable practices and ensuring that the school system was all-inclusive, serene and progressive were key ingredients to the future success.

Prof. Adinkrah-Appiah was speaking at the opening session of the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo and Western North zonal engagement of the National Education Forum (NEF) in Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital, last Monday.

The forum, which was organised on the theme: "Transforming Education for a Sustainable Future", brought together about 300 stakeholders to brainstorm five transformation pillars.

Inject new ideas

Prof Adinkrah-Appiah, who chaired the opening session of the forum, said the STU believed that education was the cornerstone of every transformation.

"We, therefore, not only expect this forum to inject new ideals into our national education formulations but also to inspire critical thinking, creativity and resilience among Ghanaians," he said.

He urged participants in the forum to come out with policies that would drive school curricula and incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), emphasising interdisciplinary collaboration, skill-based competencies, critical thinking, nationalism, self-awareness, environmental awareness, social responsibility and justice for all.

Prof. Adinkrah-Appiah explained that SDG Four, which stipulated quality education, required that countries ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

He said quality and comprehensive education could not be achieved without a strong educational system in place.

"This implies that all and sundry need to support the call for reforms in our education sector to address contemporary challenges facing us as a nation, including health, food security, transportation and employability of our youth," he said.

He said the theme could not have been more relevant at a time when many people thought that the country's educational system was at a crossroads.

Prof. Adinkrah-Appiah. therefore, commended the government for organising such a forum at this critical moment.

In his address, the Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, called on the public to embrace the NEF instituted by the government to resolve challenges facing the country's educational sector.

He urged Ghanaians to consider the forum as a national assignment requiring a high sense of patriotism and objectivity.

Mr Akwaboa urged the participants to focus on issues that could resolve challenges facing the education sector, such as infrastructure deficits, teacher motivation, curriculum relevance, funding and technological integration.

He said the forum was a testament to the commitment and resolve of President John Dramani Mahama to reset Ghana, adding that the forum was a major step towards the President's vision to transform Ghana's educational system, which would ensure that no child was left behind in receiving the quality education they deserved.

Mr Akwaboa said education was the bedrock of developing the human capital of every nation for its nation-building and socio-economic development.

He said in that regard, governments, over the years, had been implementing various reforms to enhance the quality, accessibility and relevance of education at all levels.

Writer's email: biiya.ali@graphic.com.gh