Apaak welcomes Canadian International Development Scholarships team

Dr. Clement Apaak, the Deputy Minister for Education, welcomed the Canadian International Development Scholarships team to Accra.

The Canadian Consortium of Colleges and Institutes Canada and Universities Canada will hold a meeting on May 20 and 21. This meeting is part of the Canadian International Development Scholarships 2030 (BCDI 2030) program. The Association of African Universities will host the event at its secretariat in Accra.

The BCDI 2030 program is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). It aims to support social and economic development for women and men from eligible countries. This includes Francophonie, Commonwealth countries, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The eight-year program has a budget of CAD 80 million. It focuses on developing leaders in 26 partner countries. These leaders will promote active citizenship through knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Dr. Apaak noted that this initiative aligns with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto for 2024. He emphasized that the program's focus matches his party’s education goals, especially in STEM fields.

He mentioned that the current administration is introducing STEM education at lower educational levels. Dr. Apaak highlighted the importance of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) for national development.

He stated that addressing unemployment is crucial as it affects Ghana too. Julia Scott, Vice President of Member Services at Universities Canada, spoke about the scholarship program's scope.

She explained that it represents 97 universities across Canada. The organization voices college and university presidents' collective interests nationwide.

Scott added that the initiative supports higher education research and idea sharing among universities. The scholarships cover various fields including vocational, technical, and degree-level studies in Canada.