Technical and vocational education being revamped

Kukurantumi (E/R), Oct. 29, GNA- The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports is putting in place initiatives to revamp the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system in the country.

The measures include review of the curricula of technical institutions, development of science and technology culture, provision of training opportunities for TVET personnel at the universities and introduction of entrepreneurial education.

The Sector Minister, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah at the opening of the 19th Conference of the Association of Principals of Technical Institutions (APTI) at the St Paul's Technical Institute, at Kukurantumi on Tuesday.

The theme for the five-day conference was "Promoting quality technical vocational education and training- the impact on the Ghanaian economy".

The Minister said the government would promulgate a TVET policy framework for Ghana aimed at co-ordinating all technical/vocational education to avoid duplication of resources, and ensure that training programmes of technical/ vocational institutions were geared towards the manpower needs of the country.

Mr Baah-Wiredu said technical and vocational education and training was considered as the bedrock of the economy, adding that skilled manpower had been identified as one of the essential component that would help the country attain middle-income economy.

He pointed out that the realisation of the national dream of becoming the gateway of West Africa as well as achieving the Industrial Free Zone initiative, would depend on availability of high calibre of people with technical/vocational and business skills.

Mr Baah-Wiredu commended the principals for their contribution towards the running of the Skills Training and Employment Programme (STEP) aimed at offering the unemployed with employable skills thereby contributing to poverty reduction and the creation of wealth.

The Minister reminded them that the Presidential Review Committee on Education made proposals in favour of the TVET, and hoped the conference would study the recommendations and make their views known.

The Director-General of the Ghana Education service (GES), Rev. Ama Afo Blay, called on the Principals to be scared by problem they face but find solutions through innovativeness.

She asked them to infuse in their students to be production-centred by developing programmes aimed at making them appreciate the culture of "how to work and sweat as the basis of living meaningfully."

Rev. Afo Blay urged the principals to open their institutions to girls to pursue "non-traditional trades" such as plumbing and refrigeration.

President of the APTI, Mr Asamoah Duodu, enumerated some of the challenges facing the Technical and Vocational Education Division and said the neglect in the reviewing technical institutions curricula to meet the demands of industry is a problem, which should be well addressed.

The Eastern Regional Director of the GES, Mrs Ewurabena Ahwoi who chaired the function, asked graduates of technical and vocational institutes to come together to access the Youth Fund.

Retirement awards in cash and citation were presented to Mr John Budu-Smith, a former Acting Director-General of the GES and six other members of the APTI.