28 Sep 2015

Education offered at Institute of Health Sciences must be able to help graduates secure employment and make them globally competitive,Central District Council chairperson Mr Peter Williams has said. 

Speaking during the first academic award giving ceremony at the institution recently Mr Williams said that what was important was for graduates to exit training institutions with ‘fit for purpose’ skill which will make them relevant and most sought for by health industry. 

“The student’s ability to apply high-rigor knowledge in a relevant, real-world setting has become an afterthought even though it needs to be true starting point,” Mr Williams said and added that there was need to reverse the roles for graduates to succeed and maintain employment in competitive health industry. 

The CDC chairperson said despite ongoing efforts of educators and communities to improve their schools, changing nature of work, technology and competition in the global job market has put tremendous strain on what education system provides for students. 

Consequently, Mr Williams observed that in the wake of present developments structure of the education system must do justice by delivering quality schooling to the students. 

Mr Williams argued that though assessment should not be left to define academic excellence those in education reportedly see it as such. “When assessment is viewed as the end goal or finish line, the test itself becomes a barrier to high levels of student achievement,” he said. 

He urged that connectivity or integration between subjects should be prioritized and further advised that students should not be exposed to isolated bits of content specific knowledge but, should be taught the relationship between one class to another. 

For her part HIS- Serowe principal Ms Tebogo Morolong told the gathering that the ministry of health was concerned with staff and students welfare and hence her institution decided to hold students and staff awards to reward excellence. 

Though held at different dates, staff awards will be held February next year, according to the principal. 

As part of the ongoing reward menu, the principal revealed that her institution will start rewarding staff and students at unit level, departmental level before going big to the annual school awards.  At the ceremony, students were awarded at various levels for their outstanding academic performances as well as sports excellence. Ends