FARIAD organises workshop for career guidance coordinators

Fair River International Association for Development (FARIAD) a community development non-governmental organization has organised a career guidance orientation and capacity building workshop for thirty coordinators from selected vocational training schools across the country in Ho.

The week-long training workshop is a joint implementation by FARIAD, and the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), with support from the German International Corporation (GIZ), the British Council, and Enabel.

The workshop was under the theme: “Expanding Knowledge and Initiatives in Career Guidance and Counselling towards Effective Labour Market Expectations and Sustainable Employment", and formed part of the European Union's Vocational Education and Training (VET) Toolbox programme that sought to provide employable skills sets.

Dr Shahinaz Khalil, a career guidance Consultant with the GIZ took the coordinators through highly interactive and intensive sessions aimed at equipping them in bringing out the best in their students and clients.

Participants were also equipped with advanced job application and business planning skills.

Dr Khalil entreated them to assist clients make career choices "on their own", and provide for them the needed counselling to develop quality labour market workforce.

She asked career guides to focus on their client’s strengths and abilities, and help them navigate around their weaknesses.

Dr Khalil cautioned against all forms of negativity, adding that it affected career development, and asked the coordinators to “judge actions and not the individual”.

She told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that it was important to develop careers befitting Ghanaian culture and economy, and that the workshop would help realise new strategies in bringing out the best in students.

Mr Joseph Agbeko, Executive Director of FARIAD, at the opening said career guidance and counselling was vital to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) development, and that FARIAD would strive to avail more such training opportunities.

Mr Agbeko said as a pilot, the career counselling workshop would soon be followed by others on curriculum development, and public private partnerships.

Mr Christian Agordah, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at the NVTI said the training was a timely intervention that must be broadened to enhance skill delivery, and that the NVTI would consider extending the programme to all counselling officers in its institutions.