Government to Partner UEW in TVET Programmes – H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice-President of the Republic

The Government of the Republic of Ghana has expressed its readiness to partner the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in its Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) programmes. 

This was made known by the Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Saturday, 21^st April, 2018 during the 2^nd Session of the 22^nd Congregation at the Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre, North Campus, Winneba. 

Dr. Bawumia hinted that in the quest of Government to transform the economy through industrialization, there should be reforms in the TVET sector. He revealed that it was the plan of Government to set up a TVET council and TVET service and dedicate a whole division of the education service to technical and vocational education, which would have its own Director General.

“I am told that University of Education, Winneba currently serves as the only university in the West African sub region which has the mandate and capacity to train teachers in technical and vocational education through Competency-Based Training (CBT). Government is therefore ever prepared to partner with you, UEW in its TVET programmes.” He asserted. 

The Vice-President reiterated that Government was embarking on a new programme which would be launched on 1^st May, 2018 by the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He said the project was named the Nation Builders Corps and it was to supplement all the other programmes run by the Youth Employment Agency and the others. He added that graduates would be hired for that project.    

“You have seven modules that are going to be outdoored: The Feed Ghana module where you want to have people who would go in as agric extension officers to help our farmers. We also have the Governance Ghana module where people will be attached to various local authorities. We are beginning this and this year by the grace of God we will be recruiting 100,000 graduates.” Dr. Bawumia indicated.

The Second Gentleman of the land advised the graduands to be selfless, dedicated, visionary, and result driven leaders who would desist from corruption. He therefore, challenged them to imbibe those values.

“These values will help us realize Ghana’s current vision of ‘Ghana beyond Aid’. You must be different! Go as ambassadors with a mission and a mandate. Go and change your world.” He addressed the graduands.

In his Welcome Address, Chairman of UEW Governing Council, Prof. Emmanuel Nicholas Abakah underscored that the Council’s unwavering determination to cleanse and sanitize the UEW was waxing stronger even in the midst of the recent needless legal tussles. He assured all stakeholders that the Governing Council would do everything within its powers, even as it shall not spare the minutest hint of effort to ensure that no segment of the University’s operations was jeopardized in any way during that critical period.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni recounted that lighting at the various campuses had improved tremendously within the period under review. He revealed that over 300 street lights had been installed at the three Winneba campuses (North, Central and South).  

“The University is grateful to the Government, through the Minister of Energy, for the innovative support that he facilitated for us. Also, our classrooms, lecture theatres, libraries, reading rooms and dormitories are much better lit just as we have repaired and/ or added on to our ceiling fans and air conditioners.” He said.

On Friday, 20^th and Saturday, 21^st April, 2018, the Winneba Campus graduated a total of 3,148 graduands made up of 655 post-graduate students from the School of Graduate Studies, Faculties of Educational Studies, Foreign Languages Education and Communication and 2,493 undergraduate students from 17 study centres namely: Accra Academy, Accra Attraco, Asamankese, Assin Fosu, Axim, Cape Coast, Dambai, Denu, Ho, Koforidua, Hohoe, Krobo Odumasi, Sekondi, Sogakope, Tarkwa, Tema and Winneba.

An additional 4,434 students will be graduating at Asante Mampong and Kumasi campuses respectively on Thursday, 26^th, Friday, 27^th and Saturday, 28^th April, 2018.

In attendance were the Central Regional Minister and Police Commander, Hon. Kwamena Duncan, DCOP Paul Manly Awini, Member of Parliament, Effutu, Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, Municipal Chief Excutive, Mr. John B. Ninson, Omanhene of Effutu and Ajumako Traditional Areas, Neenyi Ghartey VII, Okokodurfo Nana Kwamena Hammah Ababio II, Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. James Kagya-Agyemang, Registrar, Surv. Paul Osei-Barima Esq, University Librarian, Mr. Viscount B. Buer and other University officials.