German Development Bank extols COTVET

A German Development Bank (KfW) is so much impressed with the implementation of Ghana's Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Voucher project by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET).

With funding from the KfW, the COTVET has so far disbursed 5 million out of 20 million Euros grant to some accredited institutions in four regions of Ghana to help equip the nation with the requisite skilled manpower to sustain industrial growth.

The TVET project is being piloted in the Northern, Greater Accra, Volta and Ashanti Regions where hundreds of beneficiaries will be trained.

Over 4,000 participants have so far been trained and the Northern Region has recorded 933 beneficiaries in all five trade areas.

A fact finding team led by the the KfW Head Office, Frankfurt, Project Manager responsible for Education, Health and Social Protection for West Africa, Dr. Elke Luedemann visited the Dabokpa Technical Institute in Tamale.

Overwhelmed by the success made so far, the team praised the COTVET for the job satisfaction.

The team interacted with the school's management, visited some of the training departments and later met with leadership of the various trade associations in Tamale where some bilateral relations were firmed up.

Dr. Elke Luedemann in an interview on the sidelines described the COTVET as a good implementation agency.

She said the team in its assessment report will advocate for enough funding to sustain the TVET project at all cost.

According to her, the German government is much concerned about Ghana's industrial growth, hence the huge investment in the acquisition of manpower skills.

She thanked the Dabokpa Technical Institute's management for the project's successful implementation.

She encouraged the Institute's management to put in place the necessary structures that will attract more youth to enroll in the available programmes needed to make them productive citizens.

The Principal of Dabokpa Technical Institute, Mariam Mahama, thanked the KfW for the support.

"We have enough resources here because of the massive support we receive from COTVET and there is growing interest for the TVET project."

"We will continue to deliver quality technical education in Ghana and we have applied for accreditation to formalize all the programmes we have mounted."

Ghana's team leader of the Planco/GTVP, Collins Armah reiterated the team's commitment to achieve the desired expected outcomes.

He thanked the KfW for funding the project which is geared towards empowering the Ghanaian youth to contribute to the realization of the Ghana beyond aid agenda.

Collins Armah said his outfit was impressed by the output of the Dabokpa Technical Institute Management.

He reassured the management that the school would be given the opportunity to produce the right workforce for industry players.

According to the GTVP Voucher Fund Manager, Emmanuel Bekoe, the project was officially launched in 2014.

He said plans were afoot to implement the phase II to be upscaled to all accredited technical and vocational training institutions across Ghana.

The GTVP Program Coordinator in charge of Northern Region, Ibrahim Osman, the Regional Coordinator of the Ghana Skills Development Initiative (GSDI), Dr.Dujin Barmah and Madam Annastraub of the GIZ were part of the delegation.

The TVET Voucher Project

The COTVET launched the TVET Voucher Project to encourage technical and vocational education Ghana.

As code-named, "Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) role model programme," is is aimed at heightening awareness particularly among female students.

The programme is to equip people with technical and professional skills needed for economic and industrial development.