Redesign Curriculum to Respond to Reforms in Second Cycle Institutions, Minister Urges Ghanaian Varsities

Ghana’s Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has called on universities to update their curriculum to align with government reforms in second-cycle institutions. 

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Speaking at the National Tertiary Education Conference in Accra, Dr. Adutwum noted that the new reforms focus on technological advancement, preparing students for 21st-century skills. 

The conference, themed “Transforming Tertiary Education in Ghana: Dialogue, Policy, and Practice,” aims to bridge the gap between policy and practice in tertiary education. 

New subjects introduced in second-cycle institutions include robotics, engineering, aviation and aerospace, biomedical science, and design communication technology. 

Dr. Adutwum stressed that an accelerated curriculum would enable students who studied advanced courses in high school to access advanced placement in tertiary institutions.

“When students are flying and building drones in our high schools, what is going to happen when they get to the universities and sit down doing nothing because there is no practical activity happening?” he asked. 

Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, noted that the conference would generate ideas to improve Ghana’s tertiary education. 

Professor Ernest Aryeteey, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, cautioned that governments should not use laws to introduce changes in universities or prevent them from responding to societal needs. 

Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, praised the conference organisation and called for actionable policies to strengthen Ghana’s tertiary education landscape.

The conference commemorates the 10th anniversary of the African Centres of Excellence for Development Impact. Some of Ghana’s top universities include the University of Ghana, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University of Cape Coast, Ashesi University, and the University for Development Studies. 

This push for curriculum redesign and reform in Ghana’s tertiary education system aims to better prepare students for the modern workforce and address societal needs.