Boards urged to formulate strategic plans for vocational schools

Gomoa-Mprumem (C/R), March 12, GNA- Boards of Governors of vocational training schools in the country have been urged to formulate strategic plans that would facilitate the development of such institutions.

They must also forge relationships with district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies and other development partners for the much-needed logistical and financial support to enable the educational institutions to achieve their objectives.

Mr David Mensah, Acting Deputy Director of the Integrated Community Centre for Employable Skills (ICCES), made these suggestions when he was inaugurating a nine-member Board of Governors for the Apaaba Vocational Training Institute, on Saturday at Gomoa-Mprumem. He called on officials of the Institute to foster linkages with the Gomoa District Assembly, to secure the requisite equipment and financial support to facilitate training at the school.

Mr. Mensah urged the Board of the Institute to also ensure the early completion of a block being constructed for the Catering Department and the extension of electricity to the school. The ICCES Acting Deputy Director asked the Assembly to foster closer collaboration with the Management and the Board of Governors of the Institute to improve infrastructure towards the training of school leavers in the area.

He commended Mr. James Yaw Frempong, Principal of the Institute, for contributing to the development of education in the area. Mr. Mensah assured the Management and Board of the Institute of ICCES'S continued support, adding that plans were underway to solve problems facing the staff of the school. Mr Frempong reiterated management's call on ICCES to impress upon central government and donor organizations to come to the aid of the Institute.

He outlined the programme for the Institute and urged parents to patronise the school by sending their children there. Nana Edu Effrim X, Chief of Apaa and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Institute, appealed to the Government to extend financial and logistical support to promising private vocational training schools in the country to ensure effective training of the youth.

Other members of the Board were Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central, first Vice Chairman, Nana Awomrew I, Mankrado of Apam, second Vice Chairman, Mr Godfrey Ewool, Director, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment and Ms Abi Blankson, a Director at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The rest were, Mr Fred Oscar Abban, Presiding Member of the Gomoa District Assembly, Mr Rod Wright, an educationist and citizen of Birmingham, United Kingdom, Mr James Emmanuel Krampah, and Mr James Yaw Frempong, Principal of the Institute.

Apaaba Vocational Training Institute provides training in dressmaking, hairdressing, catering and carpentry others for the youth, especially school leavers.