By Elizabeth Ama Ofosu, GNA
Suhum (E/R), Sept. 4, GNA – Mr Collins Boateng, Chairman of the Ghana Electronics Servicing Technicians Association (GESTA), has urged parents to support their children’s interest in vocational and technical education.
He asked parents and guardians to connect interested children with the Ghana Enterprises Agency for apprenticeship and business development support to equip them with practical skills and improve their employment prospects.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, Mr Boateng said parents should identify their children’s interests, talents, and abilities.
He also encouraged them to pursue vocational and technical careers that would enable them to become self-reliant and contribute to national development.
“Parents must not discourage children who have a passion for learning a trade,” he said.
“Instead, they should support them and link them to institutions such as the Ghana Enterprises Agency, where they can receive training and assistance to establish their own businesses,” Mr Boateng added.
He noted that acquiring employable skills provided young people with opportunities to create jobs for themselves rather than depend solely on white-collar employment.
He, therefore, advised parents not to wait until their children performed poorly in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) before considering technical and vocational education as a career option.
“Vocational and technical education should not be seen as a last resort. It is a viable career path that equips young people with practical skills and prepares them for productive employment,” he said.
Mr Boateng also encouraged apprentices and artisans to obtain certification from the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) to complement their practical experience.
According to him, recognised vocational qualifications would enhance the credibility of artisans, improve their competitiveness, and increase their chances of securing employment or expanding their businesses.
He reiterated his call on parents to provide the necessary guidance and encouragement for children to develop their talents through technical and vocational training.
Mr Boateng stressed that stronger collaboration among parents, vocational training institutions and the Ghana Enterprises Agency would help equip more young people with employable skills, reduce unemployment, and promote entrepreneurship in the country.
GNA
Edited by D.I. Laary/Linda Asante Agyei
