The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, is not to blame for the country’s current economic problems, according to Gifty Twum-Ampofo, the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET).
According to Gifty Twum-Ampofo, a nation’s gross tertiary enrolment ratio has a significant role in how well its economy performs.
She bemoaned that Ghana has low gross tertiary enrollment ratio owing to poor performance of students which in effect negatively impact the economy.
“Research has proven that any country’s gross tertiary enrollment ratio has so much to do with GDP. So for our instructors and for our lecturers here once you have these responsibilities and you get so much committed then we are sure that the gross tertiary enrollment ratio will definitely increase and when that increase the GDP of the country will increase,” Twum-Ampofo stated.
She continued: “And for this simple reason, if the economy is not doing well it is not the economists, it is the teachers. Let me say that again if the economy is not doing well it is not the Finance Minister, it is not the economist it is the teacher. Because the performance of the economy depends on the country’s gross tertiary enrollment ratio.”
Gifty Twum-Ampofo further stressed that countries whose gross tertiary enrollment ratio is 40% and above, have fantastic GDP, those with lower gross tertiary enrollment ratio have their economies struggling.
The deputy minister who doubles as Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North Constituency urged teachers to do more to contribute their quota to the economic growth of the country through the training of the needed human capital for economic transformation.
She made these remarks on Saturday July 1, 2023 when speaking at 175th Anniversary of Presbyterian College of Education on the theme “175 Years of Education Honouring Our Past, Celebrating The Present and Shaping The Future”.
The Moderator of Presbyterian Church of Ghana and Chancellor of Presbyterian University Ghana PUG, Rt. Rev Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante called on the government to prepare a special remuneration scheme for College of Education teachers as they migrate to Degree Awarding Institutions.
According to the Moderator, the remuneration of teachers should be specially upgraded and packaged to suit the transformation from Diploma Awarding Institutions to Degree Awarding Institutions to encourage teachers to fully commit to teaching and training of teachers in the country.
The Moderator also urged government to convert colleges of education into teacher training universities which will be independent in awarding their own degrees without affiliations.
On the other hand, the Principal of the Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong Rev. Nicholas Apreh Siaw highlighted inadequate staff accommodation, inadequate vehicles to support students to school and for field experiences.
He also bemoaned the continuous encroachment on their lands as pressing challenges confronting the college which need to be addressed.
