Vocational and Technical Education would be first choice academic path – Minister

By
Laudia Sawer, GNA

Tema, Nov. 14, GNA –
Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Education says government is working hard
to ensure that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) gains the
position of first choice career and academic path.

Dr Prempeh said it
is unfortunate and regrettable that in Ghana, many young people see TVET as a
last choice when considering an academic or career choice.

The Education
Minister said this at a sod-cutting and launch of the Polytechnics, Technical
and Vocational Training Centres Upgrading Project at the Tema Technical
Institute by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

Dr Prempeh said for
many years, the sector has not enjoyed the best of attention and prestige
adding that the unfortunate consequence of that has reflected in the
under-investment in the TVET sector.

He said such poor
investment had led to poor teaching quality, outdated curriculum, obsolete
machinery and poorly equipped workshops in technical and vocational
institutions.

The Education
Minister said as a developing country, Ghana could not continue to go down the
lane of focusing on grammar education at the expense of technical and
vocational training.

Dr Prempeh said
countries that have made great strides in development were raking in the
investment they made in the vocational and technical sector.

He said the
government has taken a cue from countries like China to turn the fortunes of
the country through practical trainings and whipping up interest in TVET as a
first career choice.

“I look forward to
the day TVET will fully play the mainstream role and take its rightful position
in the country as a career path”.

Dr Prempeh said
government would use it as a crucial tool to empower the energetic and teaming
youth by providing them with critical skills to contribute to the country’s
industrialization drive.

He urged students
and tutors of beneficiary institutions to take advantage of the upgrading
project to acquire and impart the needed skills respectively to prepare them
for the job market.

GNA