According to them, the current syllabus was more theoretical than practical, and therefore, did not offer students the necessary skills to be more productive after completing their education.

Dr. Augusta Adjei Frempong, a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), speaking at the forum in Accra on Friday, underscored the need for the review to make the syllabus more practical and effective.

The forum organised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) brought together regional and district education directors as well as heads of Senior Technical and Vocational Schools (STVS) and examiners to discuss ways of enhancing technical education in the country.

Dr. Frempong, in a presentation, said the psychomotor (practical) aspect of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) should be developed along with the cognitive (theory) aspects.

She said the psychomotor aspect should be well structured and strengthened to give students the fundamental knowledge that would encourage them to use their skill to support national development.

According to her, the current syllabi for teaching the subjects in basic school did not allow students to be practically examined during Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

“At the basic level majority of the teachers involved in the teaching of vocational and technical subjects tend to assess the cognitive and to an extent the effective domains of pupils more than the psychomotor aspect,” she lamented.

Dr. Frempong said the situation called for a stakeholders’ involvement to restructure TVET from the basic level through secondary to tertiary level to make it more effective.

While commending the government for converting polytechnics into technical universities, Dr. Frempong urged government to resource the institutions with necessary equipment that would enhance practical lessons.

She again urged government to invest more in the infrastructure of technical institutions and capacity building of TVET teachers to contribute significantly to national development.

Mr. Augustine Ayirezang, Director of Technical Vocational Education Division of Ghana Education Service (GES), expressed concern over the nature of syllabus at the basic, secondary and tertiary level stressing that they were too packed at the basic level.

He again called on polytechnics to build the capacity of their teachers to effectively teach the practical aspects of TVET to enable graduates establish their own jobs after completion of their course.

Mr. Ayirezang also urged government to create the enabling environment for graduates to develop their entrepreneurship skills so they would be competitive globally.

Ms. Pearl Bruce, headmistress of Kaneshie High Technical and Vocational School, encouraged the youth, especially girls to develop interest in TVET and disabuse their minds that technical subjects were designed for males.

By Charles Amankwa