?40bn to revamp technical, vocational education

Sunyani B/A, Aug. 17, GNA - Government has allocated 40 billion cedis to help revamp Technical and Vocational education in the country. Mr Kwame Ampofo-Twumasi, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports who announced this on Wednesday at the 3rd delegates conference of the Ghana National Association of Vocational and Technical Institutions (GNAVTI) held in Sunyani, reiterated plans by government to establish a National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to guide policy-makers as well as sensitising the general public on the government's focus on a new vision for Technical, Agricultural and Vocational education.

It was on the theme: "Meeting the skill needs of industry and wealth creation in Ghana - the role of GNAVTI".


He explained that under the TVET policy both public and private TVET providers would be offered equal opportunity to compete with government offering leadership and support through the proposed National TVET Council.


Mr Ampofo-Twumasi, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkoranza South, said the government had established 20 vocational and technical (VOTEC) resource centres in the country to serve both public and private institutions to supplement their practical programmes.


"The realization of national dream and that of becoming the gateway of West Africa as well as achieving success in our industrial free zone initiative will depend on the availability of a large number of people with Technical and vocational, commercial and business skill" he indicated.


He appealed to TVET students, trainees, apprentices, master craftsmen and women, trade associations, industrialist and all stakeholders to take advantage of the proposed TVET policy when implemented to expand access to TVET for the youth in the country. He cautioned against the presence of large numbers of holders of technical and vocational certificates who did not possess adequate practical skills as "potentially harmful, unproductive and does not augur well for Ghana's future workforce".

In a speech read for him, Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister stressed government's commitment to train the youth to grow into sound and mature persons who would make meaningful contribution towards the development of the country.


He said government had deemed it fit to implement Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) Programme of 1995 in pursuance of the millennium development goal for education in order to make human resource development one of the main thrusts of its "positive change chapter II " programme.


Earlier in a welcoming address, Mrs. Akua Gyeemah Kwapong, National President of the Vocational and Technical Institution (GNAVTI) said the meeting was to take stock of the activities of the Association and to plan ahead for the future.


Mrs Kwapong called for the speedy implementation of the TVET policy in order to produce the needed skills required by the country for its development.