Minister calls for partnership between industry and faculties

Minister of Education, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, has called for strategic partnership between Arts Faculties in the various Polytechnics in the country and industry, to fully prepare students for the job market.

She said career paths in Arts was becoming competitive, lucrative and on high demand. Prof. Agyeman said there was the need to package curriculum of Arts education in order to meet the demands of industries.

She made these remarks in a speech read on her behalf at the Annual Open Day Celebration of the School of Applied Arts of the Takoradi Polytechnic, on Wednesday.

The event is on the theme: “Building a Strong Correlation between Art and Industry for National Development”.

Prof. Agyemang also called on Polytechnics to provide opportunities for skill development and regular platform for students to exhibit their talents and skills to bring the needed transformation and innovation to graduates for the job market.

She said the ministry would push the agenda of identifying the right partnership with industry to strengthen Art education and bring it closer to global trends and demands.

Prof. Agyemang said there was the need to intensify and refine courses such as Textiles, Graphic Design, Sculpture, Drawing and Painting in the Polytechnics in order to suit global market demands.

She asked students to take advantage of Arts education as Arts Therapist, Community Arts Work, Fashion Designer, Fine Arts, Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Printmaker and Textile Designer and develop their careers.

The Education Minister observed that apart from the skills that characterize careers in the Arts, employers would also appreciate creativity, exposure and experience. She said it was necessary for the Arts Faculty to identify strategic partners to institute competitive events and exposure to equip Arts graduates in the quest of making them professionals.

The Dean of the School of Applied Arts of the Takoradi Polytechnic, Mrs. Edna Nyame-Philips, said quality education is the most important asset and entreated Arts students to acquire the needed education for better job prospect in the future.

She indicated that the Arts industry generates substantial revenue for the national economy through linkages to industries.

Mrs. Nyame-Philips noted that Arts education helps students to develop analytical approach and critical solution-building.

Programmes outlined for the one-week celebration included creative Arts exhibition, drawing competition, debate, seminars, entertainment and sports fiesta.