Prof. Gabriel Ayum Teye, a former Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, has called on the government to sustain and strengthen the ongoing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education initiative.

This, he noted, would not only help to safeguard the resources that have been invested into its implementation to transform Ghana’s educational system, but also sustain the interest, which the youth were gaining in science, technical, mathematics and engineering training.

Prof. Teye, speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview on his views on the country’s education and the way forward, said STEM and TVET education should be pursued vigorously, as part of efforts to reduce youth unemployment in the country.

He pointed out that, many STEM and TVET schools had already been established by the previous government to equip learners with skills for future careers in science and technology, and also arouse the interest of girls to take up such careers.

“Maintaining the STEM schools and equipping them with the necessary materials to enhance teaching and learning was one way government could sustain the interest of the youth in that area.

Prof. Teye observed that Ghana had over the years, kept reforming its educational system.

However, policies made to sustain their implementation had been weak making the educational system unstable and at times unable to meet the needs and aspirations of the people.

He said the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) policies needed to be sustained and strengthened to help produce leaders capable of sustaining the country in the 21st century.

He suggested that the government should establish a grade limit for the admission of students to the SHS and place the not-good ones in TVET schools since both are free.

“Government must develop a way of sorting the grades out and placing students in the schools they belonged. I mean the SHS and the TVET schools,” he said

Prof. Teye indicated that the establishment of a grade point in the SHS would reduce the burden on the schools and reset the double-tracking system to the single-track system.

He advised the government and parents not to be in a hurry to produce many graduates into a system where employment opportunities were limited.

However, the government must ensure the quality of the graduates being produced and the availability of employment opportunities for them.

“Some time ago, I proposed to one of the authorities to fix the writing of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in April so that by June/July, their results would be ready for them to go to school.

Also, the West African Secondary School Examination Certificate (WASSCE) should be written by the end of the year in December so that SHS students would exhaust the stipulated three years needed to complete school”.

This, according to Professor Teye, would help prepare the students well for university education.