EVELYN Hone College principal Cephas Chabu yesterday said the free education policy the New Dawn administration is implementing at secondary school level has positively impacted the learning institution, resulting in a marked increase in the number of enrolments.
No doubt, the free education policy introduced just over two years ago is beginning to bear fruit. The upsurge in student enrolment at Evelyn Hone from only about 1,800 last year to about 2,600 and counting this year marks a positive step towards a more educated and skilled workforce, which is crucial for economic growth and development in the long run.
As Mr Chabu says, the implementation of free education in secondary schools has undeniably played a pivotal role in boosting the number of students enrolling in tertiary institutions such as Evelyn Hone College.
This surge in enrolment is proof of the transformative power of the free education policy. As more students access quality education at the secondary level, they become more equipped to pursue higher education and vocational training, thereby enhancing their prospects for future employment and contributing to the overall growth of the economy.
The revelation by Mr Chabu that the college has prioritised the imparting of entrepreneurial skills to students “so that they are able to open and run their businesses” is gratifying.
For a long time now, one of the country’s major problems is unemployment, especially youth unemployment. And for a long time now, our universities and colleges have been producing graduates conditioned for formal employment with very little or no entrepreneurial skills.
Tailoring the curriculum for tertiary institutions to include training on entrepreneurship will go a long way in aligning our tertiary institutions to economic needs. It will also align these institutions with the proposed curriculum change at primary and secondary school levels that prioritises the teaching of entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
The increase in enrolment at Evelyn Hone College and indeed other institutions is not just a numerical statistic; it represents tangible investment in the human capital of our nation. With a larger pool of educated and skilled individuals entering the workforce, the economy stands to benefit from a more productive and innovative labour force.
As the demand for tertiary education occasioned by free education and bursaries under CDF increases, we urge tertiary education institutions to quickly begin to expand their infrastructure so that they are able to accommodate the growing number of students seeking their services.
And the growing demand for educational infrastructure, teaching staff, and other services will generate employment opportunities and in the process stimulate economic activity.
And as tertiary institutions expand their infrastructure to meet the growing demand, they may need to expand their sources of income beyond their traditional income streams. And in that vein, we applaud the Evelyn Hone principal over his decision to engage the institution in the production of electrical shackles and reels by the college’s art section which, as he said, are on demand by energy utility companies and members of the general public.
We believe this is a venture that can be grown into a full-scale operation and in turn provide employment to some of the institution’s graduates.
We also commend the institution’s decision to commercialise some of its services such as the laboratory, physiotherapy and clinic. This too will provide jobs to the institution’s graduates and also provide a practical training base for students.
Indeed, the surge in enrolment at Evelyn Hone College, catalysed by the introduction of free education in secondary schools, is a positive development with far-reaching implications for the economy.
As we witness this shift in the educational landscape brought about by free education, it is essential for all stakeholders to ensure that the dividends of increased enrolment translate into tangible and enduring benefits for our economy and our society as a whole.
Free education policy bearing fruit
EVELYN Hone College principal Cephas Chabu yesterday said the free education policy the New Dawn administration is implementing at secondary school level has positively impacted the learning institution, resulting in a marked increase in the number of enrolments.
No doubt, the free education policy introduced just over two years ago is beginning to bear fruit. The upsurge in student enrolment at Evelyn Hone from only about 1,800 last year to about 2,600 and counting this year marks a positive step towards a more educated and skilled workforce, which is crucial for economic growth and development in the long run.
As Mr Chabu says, the implementation of free education in secondary schools has undeniably played a pivotal role in boosting the number of students enrolling in tertiary institutions such as Evelyn Hone College.
This surge in enrolment is proof of the transformative power of the free education policy. As more students access quality education at the secondary level, they become more equipped to pursue higher education and vocational training, thereby enhancing their prospects for future employment and contributing to the overall growth of the economy.
The revelation by Mr Chabu that the college has prioritised the imparting of entrepreneurial skills to students “so that they are able to open and run their businesses” is gratifying.
For a long time now, one of the country’s major problems is unemployment, especially youth unemployment. And for a long time now, our universities and colleges have been producing graduates conditioned for formal employment with very little or no entrepreneurial skills.
Tailoring the curriculum for tertiary institutions to include training on entrepreneurship will go a long way in aligning our tertiary institutions to economic needs. It will also align these institutions with the proposed curriculum change at primary and secondary school levels that prioritises the teaching of entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
The increase in enrolment at Evelyn Hone College and indeed other institutions is not just a numerical statistic; it represents tangible investment in the human capital of our nation. With a larger pool of educated and skilled individuals entering the workforce, the economy stands to benefit from a more productive and innovative labour force.
As the demand for tertiary education occasioned by free education and bursaries under CDF increases, we urge tertiary education institutions to quickly begin to expand their infrastructure so that they are able to accommodate the growing number of students seeking their services.
And the growing demand for educational infrastructure, teaching staff, and other services will generate employment opportunities and in the process stimulate economic activity.
And as tertiary institutions expand their infrastructure to meet the growing demand, they may need to expand their sources of income beyond their traditional income streams. And in that vein, we applaud the Evelyn Hone principal over his decision to engage the institution in the production of electrical shackles and reels by the college’s art section which, as he said, are on demand by energy utility companies and members of the general public.
We believe this is a venture that can be grown into a full-scale operation and in turn provide employment to some of the institution’s graduates.
We also commend the institution’s decision to commercialise some of its services such as the laboratory, physiotherapy and clinic. This too will provide jobs to the institution’s graduates and also provide a practical training base for students.
Indeed, the surge in enrolment at Evelyn Hone College, catalysed by the introduction of free education in secondary schools, is a positive development with far-reaching implications for the economy.
As we witness this shift in the educational landscape brought about by free education, it is essential for all stakeholders to ensure that the dividends of increased enrolment translate into tangible and enduring benefits for our economy and our society as a whole.