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COTVET trains 933 craftsmen and apprentices in Northern Region

Covert So far, over 4,000 beneficiaries have been trained across the country

Sat, 23 Mar 2019 Source: Abdul Karim Naatogmah

Ghana's Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (COTVET) is empowering hundreds of craftsmen and apprentices in the Northern Region through the implementation of the Ghana TVET Voucher Project ( GTVP).

So far, over 4,000 beneficiaries have been trained and the Northern Region alone has recorded 933.

They received training through the informal Competence Based Training (CBT) system.

Beauty/cosmetology, Consumer electronics, Automotive repair, building construction and Garment/tailoring/dress making are the trade areas.

It has been extended to plumbing, furniture making and electrical installation study mounted by the Dabokpa Technical Institute in Tamale.

The project is funded by the German-Ghanaian Financial Cooperation through the German Development Bank (KfW).

The bilateral project is gradually reducing Ghana's unemployment ratio for which reason the beneficiaries are calling for its sustainability.

The project was launched in 2017 and was originally implemented in the Northern, Volta, Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions.

It has been upscaled to the Western, Central and Eastern Regions.

Two million euros was allocated for the first two phases and the phase 1 ended in October 2018 whilst the phase 2 will commece in November 1, 2019.

A team from the German Development Bank (KfW) during an assessment tour of the Dabokpa Technical Institute was impressed with the school's output.

The team leader, Dr. Elke Luedemann commended the the school's management for making good use of the resources made available to achieve the project's objective.

As the Project Manager at the KfW Head Office, Frankfurt, responsible for Education, Health and Social Protection for West Africa, Dr. Elke maintained that the team was happy.

She nonetheless urged the school's management to avoid complacency and double the success story.

She reaffirmed the German government's financial commitment to train the Ghanaian youth to be self reliant.

The Ghanaian team leader, Collins Armah was equally impressed with the Dabokpa Technical Institute management's performance in line with the dictates of the GTVP implementation.

According to him, the project among other interventions by the Ghana government will equip the youth with the technical knowledge desired for industrial growth.

This, in Collins Armah's estimation will pave the way for the private sector to really flourish as the engine of Ghana's economic development.

The COTVET's Coordinator in-charge of Assessment and Certification, Seth Oku Asamoah debunked the widespread misconception that technical and vocational education was meant for school dropouts.

He said the COTVET would intensify its collaboration with the media to encourage the youth to take advantage of the project and acquire manpower skills.

He also pleaded with parents and guardians to develop interest in their wards acquisition of knowledge particularly in the informal sector.

According to the GTVP Voucher Fund Manager, Emmanuel Bekoe, plans were afoot to implement the phase in all accredited technical and vocational training institutions across Ghana.

He promised the Dabokpa Technical Institute Management more iPads to enhance their monitoring and supervision mechanisms.

The Principal of Dabokpa Technical Institute, Mariam Mahama, thanked the KfW and the COTVET for introducing the project there.

She said regular students were benefitting from the facilities meant for the GTVP.

"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."

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 team later met with leadership of the various trade associations in Tamale.

The TVET Voucher Project

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

As codenamed, "Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) role model programme," it 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.

The COTVET is undergoing rapid transformation under the supervision of the Executive Director, Dr.Fred Asamoah who is succeeding in transforming the council into TVET.

Source: Abdul Karim Naatogmah