The Ghana Muslim Mission (GMM) has launched its 64th annual national conference with a call on Muslims to embrace Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), for the development of their communities. Sheikh Dr Amen Bonsu, National Chairman, GMM, said TVET and STEM were the current ways to go in education to help address the disconnect between what was taught in secondary schools and the demand of industry and employers. He said the Muslim youth needed to embrace this type of education in order to become useful to themselves, society and the country at large. The conference, scheduled to take place from November 7 to 10, 2024, at the Ghana Muslim Mission, Headquarters, in the Greater Accra Region is on the theme: 'STEM and TVET education in Muslim communities in Ghana for national development'. Sheikh Bonsu said the conference was firstly an obedience to the command of Allah, for all Muslims to unite to propagate the word of Allah and uplift themselves spiritually. He said over the years the Mission had organised annual conferences aimed at different projects but this year's conference was aimed at raising funds to renovate and reconstruct the Hijaz Islamic Basic School into an ultramodern TVET and STEM educational institution.? The conference is also a way of getting closer to Allah, by engaging in more acts of worship throughout the three days, like dawn prayers, giving out in the cause of Allah, among others. 'Coming together during this period would also help Muslims to fraternize and know more about each other, love each other and help us take stock of what we have done and what we have to do for the progress of our community and the country Ghana at large.' He said the Hijaz Islamic School, built 57 years ago needed to be uplifted into a modern structure that could address the educational needs of the current times, and create a conducive environment for teaching and learning.? He called on government, corporate Ghana and individuals to come on board to support the Mission in its quest to renovate the school while considering taking STEM and TVET education to the next level. 'The Ghana Muslim Mission is a non-sectarian, non-governmental, non-ethnic, progressive Muslim group, who have come together to learn and propagate Islam while working at developing the Muslim community, hence all Muslims are invited to join for the sake of Allah.' Mr Mohammed Doku, National Organiser, GMM, said the Mission had the firm belief that education was key in the development of a responsible society and so over the years had invested so much in the educational sector of the country. 'Currently, the Mission has over 165 educational institutions, from basic, to senior high, and to the tertiary level. And we are still yearning to do more for Mother Ghana', he added. He said the renovation and reconstruction of the school needed everybody's support, especially the Muslim community, saying this would help in the development of the younger generation of Muslim s who would benefit from it in the near future to change the status quo. Source: Ghana News Agency