Develop all sectors of education - Government urged

Sekondi, Dec 26, GNA - Mrs. Georgina Baiden, Proprietor of The Nest School, has called on the government to develop a policy to promote all sectors of education in the country.

"Government has an important role to play in coordinating vocational education to meet the demands of industry and commercial entities". Mrs. Baiden was speaking at the passing out of technical apprentices and textile trainees under the Skills Training and Employment Placement Programme (STEP), at the Sekondi-Takoradi Regional Technology Transfer Centre (RTTC), at Sekondi on Wednesday.

A total of 42 persons were presented with certificates after training lasting between three months and three years. Mrs. Baiden noted that old physical structures, lack of inputs, neglect of vocational centres and the unwillingness of businesses to employ apprentices were major challenges facing vocational and technical institutions.

She urged the government to guarantee the youth, the right to initial and continual vocational education and training, to unearth their talents and called on public institutions to invest in vocational training.

Mrs. Baiden noted that artisans like Blacksmiths and Goldsmiths and their trades were "slowing fading away" and called on the RTTC to include such vocations in their future programmes.

Mr. George Twumasi, Regional Manager of the RTTC, said the European Union provided 80 per cent of the tuition cost of trainees. He said screen-printing would be introduced in the 2004 academic year as part of the textiles programme, which would be reduced from six months to four months.

"This is meant to attract more people to develop interest in the textile business," he added.

Mr. Twumasi advised the trainees to form co-operatives to enable them to secure loans and credit for their businesses.