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18 #ChangingLives<br />
19<br />
#TransformingGhana #ChangingLives<br />
Central Laboratories KNUST<br />
#TransformingGhana<br />
NMR machine at KNUST Central Lab<br />
Lab of the Petroleum Engineering Department at KNUST<br />
all 38 public colleges of education<br />
will continue. So far, these reforms<br />
have ensured that the colleges of<br />
education operate at full capacity<br />
thereby guaranteeing enhanced<br />
supply of trained teachers.<br />
Following the replacement of<br />
trainee allowances with the Student<br />
Loan Trust Fund, 2,884 students<br />
have received a total payment of<br />
GH¢ 2.7 million from the fund so<br />
far.<br />
A further support to the reforms is<br />
a £19 million Transforming Teacher<br />
Education and Learning (T-TEL)<br />
programme aimed at consolidating<br />
teacher training education.<br />
Government has also commenced<br />
the processes for the establishment<br />
of an open university to help absorb<br />
the large demand for tertiary<br />
education in the country.<br />
A draft bill for the establishment<br />
of the National Research Fund has<br />
been prepared and is currently<br />
undergoing stakeholders’<br />
consultation and review.<br />
Conversion of Polytechnics to<br />
Technical Universities<br />
The NDC Government has<br />
embarked on a radical programme<br />
aimed at rebranding Technical<br />
Education to make it more<br />
attractive to the youth. This<br />
programme occupies a strategic<br />
place within President Mahama’s<br />
transformation agenda and it is<br />
aimed at driving employment and<br />
wealth-creation. This strategy<br />
informed his vision to transform<br />
our Polytechnics to Technical<br />
Universities.<br />
Work on the conversion of<br />
Polytechnics to Technical<br />
Universities will progress with the<br />
expected passage of the Technical<br />
Universities Bill this year.<br />
Conversion of each Polytechnic will<br />
be based on assessment in the area<br />
of equipment, faculty and strong<br />
collaboration with industry.<br />
The take-off date is slated for<br />
September 2016. In preparation for<br />
the conversion, Government will<br />
scale up interventions in the nation’s<br />
Polytechnics including a rigorous<br />
staff development programme.<br />
Technical and Vocational<br />
Education & Training (TVET)<br />
In line with Government’s<br />
commitment to bring<br />
standardisation to the informal<br />
TVET sector, the Council for<br />
Technical and Vocational Education<br />
and Training (COTVET) is rolling<br />
out a programme to assess and<br />
certify informal artisans.<br />
The first phase will certify<br />
electricians through collaboration<br />
with the Energy Commission.<br />
Skills Development Fund (SDF)<br />
Under the Skills Development<br />
Fund, more than GH¢ 150 million<br />
in grants have been provided to 510<br />
grantees made up of institutions,<br />
businesses and associations to<br />
develop skills and promote technical<br />
and vocational training.<br />
Some of the beneficiaries are the<br />
Ghana Atomic Energy Commission,<br />
University of Ghana, Ghana<br />
Technology University College<br />
(GTUC), Kumasi Polytechnic,<br />
Centre for Scientific and Industrial<br />
Research (CSIR), KNUST Jewellery<br />
Design and Technology Centre,<br />
UCC Department of Vocational and<br />
Technical Education, Progressive<br />
Electronic Technicians Association<br />
of Ghana, Ghana National<br />
Association of Garages, Ghana<br />
National Association of Poultry<br />
Farmers and the Ghana Association<br />
of Electrical Contractors.<br />
In 2015, grants totaling GH¢65<br />
million are being awarded to cover<br />
an estimated 100 private sector<br />
firms.
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