We need quality human resource to engineer growth : Kpessa-Whyte

The Acting Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS) and Presidential Staffer, Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte, has said the quest for rapid socio-economic development of the country requires that its educational institutions deliver high quality human resource equipped with the necessary skills to engineer growth.

He said the training of creative and problem–solving graduates must be the focus of universities instead of the traditional paradigm of a teacher–centred classroom.

Technology

According to Dr Kpessa-Whyte, modern technology is the product of education. 

He explained that all the landmark technological innovations and advances that had shaped the world and brought information closer to the people were made possible because some students somewhere in the world decided to expand the frontiers of their curiosity.

“Today if we find comfort and convenience in the use of smartphones, laptops, desktop computers, tablets and ipads among others, it is because some students somewhere innovatively applied their knowledge to the challenges of the world,” Dr Kpessa–Whyte indicated.

Anniversary launch

He was speaking at the 25th anniversary launch of the Osudoku Senior High Technical School (SHTS) at Osudoku in the Shai-Osudoku District in the Greater Accra Region.

According to Dr Kpessa-Whyte, the government recognised the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the development of the country.

He said it was for this reason the government intended to make affordable high-speed Internet and free online teaching resources available to schools especially in remote areas of the country.

The director added that the government was also investing in the installation of soft ware, servers and local file storage facilities to facilitate teaching and learning beyond the classroom. 

He said as a demonstration of its commitment to education in the area, the government had constructed a modern administrative block, a boys’ dormitory, a dining hall and a 12-unit classroom block for the Osudoku SHTS to provide conducive  environment for teaching and learning. 

Tribute

The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Sylvia Baaba Yankey, paid tribute to the founding fathers of the school, especially Mr J.W.K. Tettefio who established the school 25 years ago.

She said the school that started with 37 students now had a population of 1007.

Mrs Yankey mentioned a wall, additional classrooms and dormitories, workshop facilities and a sick bay as some of the projects that were needed to promote teaching and learning in the school.

Admonition

The Paramount Chief of the Osudoku Traditional Area, Nene Aadegbor Ngmongmowuyaa Kwesi Animle VI, advised the students to concentarte on their studies to make meaninful impacts in life.