The Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) also the Member of Parliament of Abuakwa North Constituency, Hon Gifty Twum-Ampofo has emphasized the importance of teachers in the socio economic development of the country.
According to her, the level of education attained by a country’s citizens impacts on the growth and development of the country.
She averred that there is a strong correlation between education and Development,
She stressed that there is an empirical evidence to show how a higher tertiary enrollment in education can transform the Gross Domestic Product of the country
(GDP).
The astute Legislator stated, that teachers are pivot for addressing the current economic challenges facing the country and not the Finance Minister.
Hon Gifty Twum-Ampofo explained that, for any country's economy to perform well, it largely depends on its gross tertiary enrollment ratio which Ghana unfortunately has a low gross tertiary enrollment ratio,
which in effect having significant negative impact on the economy.
She disclosed that, Research has proven that any country’s gross tertiary enrollment ratio has so much to do with GDP and therefore reteirates the responsibility of instructors and lecturers to ensure attainment of a higher proportion of tertiary population to advance development.
She continued: “And for this simple reason, if the economy is not doing well it is not the economists, it is the teachers. Let me say that again if the economy is not doing well it is not the Finance Minister, it is not the economist it is the teacher. Because the performance of the economy depends on the country’s gross tertiary enrollment ratio.”
Gifty Twum-Ampofo further stressed that countries whose gross tertiary enrollment ratio is 40% and above, their GDP is fantastic, those with lower gross tertiary enrollment ratio the economy is struggling.
She urged teachers to do more to contribute their quota to the economic growth of the country through the training of the needed human capital for economic transformation.
She made these remarks on Saturday July 1, 2023 when speaking at 175th Anniversary of Presbyterian College of Education on the theme “175 Years of Education Honouring Our Past, Celebrating The Present and Shaping The Future”.
Credit: Nana Kwasi Asare