Government urged to place vocational institutions under Education

Ministry

Biriwa (C/R), April 25, GNA - The Municipal Chief Executive for Mfantseman, Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur has called on the government to place vocational institutions under the Ministry of Education Science and sports instead of the Employment Youth and manpower where they are now.

Mr Quainoo-Arthur noted that the change was necessary to enable the institutions benefit from infrastructure facilities and vehicles being provided from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). "That will also give credence to the importance the government attaches to technical and vocational training under the Educational Reform programme," he told the audience at the inauguration of an 11-member Centre Management Committee (CMC) for the Biriwa Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Centre at Biriwa. The committee is chaired by Madam Mary Bibiana Oduro, Salpond Magistrate.

Mr Quainoo-Arthur expressed regret that vocational institutes had been denied infrastructure developments which were taking place in other educational institutions.

He appealed to members of the committee to use their positions to lobby for facilities needed at the centre.

Mr Clement Osei Tutu, Deputy Director, Programme and Operations of the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), said management had decided to replace Board of Governors of its institutions with Centre Management Committees because it realized that some Board Members commanded so much authority that some did not consult head office of NVTI before taking some major decisions.

He called for a cordial working relationship among members of the committee to enable them to move the centre forward. Miss Vivian Etroo, Mfantseman Municipal Director of Education cautioned the members that no one should make himself or herself a tin-god at the centre, but to listen to advice and work hard to improve conditions at the centre.

Miss Jacklin Appah, Centre Manager appealed to the community and the Municipal Assembly to give contracts to the centre to help in the practical training of the students.