The just-ended Technical Education Development for Modernised Agriculture in Ghana (TEDMAG) project has transformed agriculture education at the tertiary level, giving students hands-on practical skills to be market-oriented entrepreneurs before graduation.
One of the main objectives of the CA$15million TEDMAG project, which span six years, is to upgrade the curricula of five agricultural colleges of education to make them more market-oriented, value chain-centred and gender sensitive. Tutors in the various colleges were also given post-graduate education to upgrade and be better-equipped to deliver modern teaching methods to students.
The project was implemented at the Damango, Ohawu, Ejura and Kwadaso Colleges of Agriculture, and the Animal Health and Production College.
The newly-developed curriculum for training students is focused on market-oriented and farming as a business approach to agriculture. It is designed to support trainers and equip students with skills and knowledge that translates into practice for all agriculture extension and development workers.
To ensure the expectations of students and teachers alike are met, the teaching manuals and materials were developed and validated by experts in collaboration with some of the students and tutors.
With testimonials pointing to an excellent execution of the project, experts are confident that agricultural education has been transformed for the better.
TEDMAG was implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) with funding support from Global Affairs Canada.
The project has also seen a physical infrastructure overhaul for the colleges of education. For instance, it saw the retooling of ICT units, science laboratories, and rehabilitation of libraries at five campuses.
“I am elated to announce that depending solely on government for employment will be reduced drastically, as students from these colleges of agriculture will be self-sufficient and fully equipped to start and sustain their own ventures after graduation,” he said.
Some of the initiatives under this objective – such as the establishment of student-managed farms (SMF) among other exercises to provide students with hands-on practical training and have real-time experience in agribusiness – are said to have already produced several entrepreneurs.
SOURCE:BFT
