The 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Lawyer Benard Ahiafor, has called on the stakeholders in the Education Sector to pay more attention to technical and vocational education to equip the youth with the necessary skills to accelerate development in Ghana.
According to him, the 21st century education is about skills and innovation and over the years, people have been made to believe that vocational and technical education are for the average students, so even if a student is well-talented in these areas, his or her parents are likely to dissuade him/her from pursuing that line of education.
Speaking at the 60th Anniversary launch of his former School, Abor Senior High School at Aborsco Campus on 14th June, 2025, The 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who is also the Member of Parliament for Akatsi South, called for a new orientation towards skills-based education, “which undoubtedly is the bedrock for the development of every nation, and has helped countries like Germany, Japan, China, and Singapore to accelerate the pace of their development”.
He said it is imperative to start this practical skill-oriented education from the basic education level through SHS to the tertiary level so that students will be well equipped with the skills that will enable them to set up on their own, submitting that, “Graduates, as well as artisans such as hairdressers, carpenters and masons from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), as well as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, are also encouraged to Come together to form businesses. This will make it easier for them to access government support and also source facilities from financial institutions to expand and sustain their businesses, generate employment, and create wealth for the Nation”.
The Law maker described the Anniversary theme: “60 years of impactful journey: Providing transformative Secondary Education through indigenous values and 21st Century skills”, as more appropriate and truly because, “It is an undeniable fact that the skills and knowledge that are needed for economic advancement in life are not found only within the walls of the classroom. The certificates we award to our students in the senior high and tertiary levels are just meant to prove that the person has acquired some basic knowledge and skills which he or she could build upon”.
Lawyer Ahiafor underlined the fact that today’s world is becoming more practical than philosophical, “with the skills and talents of individuals becoming the main tool driving innovation and wealth creation. It is therefore necessary to redirect the focus of our educational system and the orientation of our graduates to enable them to use their knowledge and skills to create opportunities for themselves and for others”.
He was optimistic that “as we launch the 60% Anniversary of Abor Senior High School, I expect that all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, religious leaders and government, will continue to collaborate and effectively play their respective roles to improve our educational system by equipping our students with the requisite knowledge and skills needed for national development, complemented by a strong moral and ethical foundation, to accelerate the socio-economic development of Ghana.
He used the occasion to express his profound gratitude to all teachers — past and present, former Headmasters, students — past and present, founders and visionaries, Opinion Leaders, Parents, Guardians, and partners.
