New SHTS, STEM curriculum out this year — President Mahama

The Ministry of Education will fully implement a new curriculum for senior high technical schools (SHTS) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Schools, President John Mahama, has announced.

In addition, he said the ministry would introduce a standardised National Sign Language for hearing-impaired learners from kindergarten to senior high school and review the kindergarten and primary school curriculums.

“To increase access to quality education, we will scale up social intervention programmes like Capitation Grants, Feeding Grants for Special Schools and the government’s BECE registration initiative.

“To promote inclusion and equity, the government will enhance and resource the Islamic Education Unit to recruit more Islamic and Arabic tutors, Establish STEM and TVET schools in underserved peri-urban communities, provide scholarships to brilliant, needy students in deprived communities, especially for law, medicine and engineering, support Islamic Colleges of Education with infrastructure and logistics, Enrol youth in Zongo and deprived urban areas in the National Apprenticeship Programme and offer free technical and vocational training,” he said.

President Mahama, who said this today (Thursday) when he presented his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), noted that it was important to continue to retain and motivate teachers in all schools, especially in rural and underserved areas.

He said the government would begin plans for the implementation of the 20% allowance for teachers who agree to serve in rural schools.

“District assemblies would be involved in this scheme to ensure that the teachers are present and teaching. This scheme will reward such teachers for their sacrifice and ensure quality education nationwide.

Teacher

“As part of our Teacher Dabr3 initiative, the construction of teacher accommodation units to improve welfare and attract teachers to rural areas will commence this year,” he said, adding that “in line with our promise, the Minister of Education has announced the restoration of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs)”.

He said it was important for parents and communities to participate in the administration of their schools and that the Ministry of Education and GES would ensure that PTAs did not impose unbearable financial burdens on parents and students who cannot afford them.

“As promised, we have begun improving secondary school feeding. Efforts to decentralise food management include strengthening procurement and store management capacity.

Once completed, food procurement and management will be fully handed over to secondary school heads,” he said.

STEM schools, Mr Mahama said, were central to national development and “we will expand STEM programmes at all levels to equip students for the global economy. Regional TVET Centres of Excellence will be established to provide practical skills”.

Targets

Ghana, he said, had consistently missed its Gross Tertiary Enrolment targets, with the rate below 22 per cent — far from the 40 per cent goal by 2030. Despite over 460,000 secondary graduates annually, 55 per cent qualify for tertiary education and only 35 per cent (161,000) enrol, leaving over 300,000 without access.

“To address this, the government is introducing a no-fee stress policy to eliminate tertiary admission fees, which currently serve as a barrier to higher education for some students.

“This will be supported by an enhanced Student Loan Scheme (Student Loan Plus). The no-fee policy will also cover all Persons with Disabilities (PwD) who gain admission to tertiary institutions.

Additionally, TVET enrolment will be increased from 11 per cent to 20 per cent to boost employability,” he said.