Your attitude is sabotaging government’s efforts – Minister lambasts BRITECH PTA

The Central Regional Minister, Ekow Panyin Eduamoah Okyere, has taken a swipe at the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) of the Biriwa Vocational and Technical Institute (BRITECH) over what he described as poor parental commitment to vocational education.

His comments followed a low turnout of parents and guardians at the school’s 50th anniversary celebration, a situation the minister said reflected a worrying attitude that undermines government efforts to promote technical and vocational training.

According to him, the lack of participation by parents sends the wrong signal and sabotages ongoing investments by the government aimed at equipping young people with practical and employable skills.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Okyere urged parents to enrol their children in vocational and technical institutions, stressing that such schools are key to national development.

He called on the government to continue prioritising vocational and technical education to enable Ghanaian youth to acquire basic skills for self-reliance and job creation.

The minister also condemned the long-held perception that vocational training is only meant for academically weak students. He advocated a shift away from what he termed “English” qualifications for enrolment, urging a stronger focus on students’ practical abilities, talents, and potential achievements.

Despite the infrastructural challenges confronting BRITECH, the Central Regional Minister pledged his support to the school for as long as he remains in office. He further appealed to school authorities to design short courses aimed at training street people in basic skills to help them become self-sufficient.

He also appealed to parents across the country to make vocational and technical training a priority for their children.

Meanwhile, the Manager of the Biriwa Vocational and Technical Institute in the Mfantseman Municipality, Ing. Samuel Kwashie Amegbor, appealed to the government for additional accommodation facilities, explaining that increased enrolment under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy has forced many students to seek accommodation outside the school.

He said the institute is grappling with several infrastructural deficits, including shortages of desks, teaching and learning materials, as well as a lack of adequate practical laboratories for student assessments.

Amegbor also raised safety concerns, noting that the school’s location near the Mankessim–Cape Coast highway exposes students to danger when crossing the road to access their dormitories. He therefore appealed to highway authorities to provide speed ramps and an overhead pedestrian bridge.

In addition, he noted that the school’s dining hall is inadequate to cater for the growing student population resulting from the Free SHS policy.

The Director-General of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service, who was present at the event, pledged support to help address the challenges facing BRITECH.

He encouraged parents to consider vocational education as a viable pathway for their children, stressing that many technical institutions across the country face similar infrastructural challenges, which the government is committed to resolving for the benefit of Ghanaian students.