Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Martin Kwaku Ayisi, has passionately advocated a reform in the Ghanaian university education system, calling for a shift from old and relic mode of admitting students to focus on technical courses.
Mr. Ayisi emphasized the importance of technical education, stating that he would prefer his own son to attend a technical school after high school to pursue a 3-year technical course, as it would make him more employable.
He criticized the prevailing attitude that discourages students from pursuing engineering and technical courses without a science background, asserting that such restrictions deny individuals valuable skills and opportunities.
“Universities producing more idle hands because we have refused to take engineering courses or taking it seriously. So Randy, if you ask me, I will prefer my son to go to a technical school after SHS or High School to go and do 3 years technical course because after school, he will be employable. So more of the idle hands are people who read social sciences and humanities. Our schools need to focus on technical courses”
Mr. Ayisi further called for universities to open their doors to students interested in technical courses, regardless of their background. He highlighted the need for a shift in mindset among educators and administrators, urging them to embrace change and adapt to the evolving demands of the modern world.
“It is either those heads of institutions are ignorant or being misled to deceive people. The world has changed and we must also change”
“During our time, you are told, if you want to read computer science, you must have A-level mathematics, only for me to learn later that 3 A’s can qualify you to read computer science at any British universities, why? Why not Ghana”
Restrictions are denying people skills and I don’t think that is how people are doing it out there. Now nobody wants to do computer science because of those restrictions and it is a problem. If somebody has A’s in Economics, Geography and even Arts, but he is good technically and that person wants to read computer science, he should be allowed, he lamented on Metro TV’s flagship program Good Morning Ghana Show hosted by Dr Randy Abbey.
Furthermore, Mr. Ayisi addressed the issue of inadequate support for research works in universities, attributing it to the poor treatment of students by some professors and lecturers. He stressed the significance of fostering positive relationships between educators and students, noting that a supportive environment encourages alumni to contribute to research and development initiatives.
He called for a departure from outdated practices and a renewed focus on nurturing talent and innovation within Ghanaian universities.
“The attitude of some of our professors and lecturers is also responsible for why are our universities are broke. Because when you treat students badly and become CEOs and Directors, you don’t expect them to setup endowment fund to support the school.
You have professors and lecturers who take students through pains, how do you expect to come and create endowment fund to support research”
“What is more painful is some of the professors in our universities, went to Ivy League schools but are still stack in the old ways of doing things” the visibly looking angry Mr. Ayisi said
In singling out an individual for celebration, Mr. Ayisi praised Professor Raymond Atuguba, Dean of the Law Faculty at Legon Law School, for their innovative approaches to education and emphasized the importance of leadership in fostering a conducive learning environment.
“When I was in the law school, some of the greatest teachers who taught me, have to switch course somewhere along the line. But they have become great lawyers and judges. So we need to do things differently now, the world has moved”
“At this place, I’ll single out praise for the Dean of Law faculty at Legon Law School, Professor Raymond Atuguba, he is doing things differently”
“I ask myself the way Prof. Atuguba is running the faculty trying to build new projects, why didn’t we do this 10 years ago. So it means those who were there before him, had some character and attitude”
They should change their behaviour, he ended.