Revamp technical education to boost economic development – S-Poly Rector

By Edward Adjei Frimpong, Sunyani 

The high-skilled manpower required to boost productivity, underpin economic advancement and create opportunities for individuals in the economic development of Ghana is increasingly dwindling -- largely because of insufficient support for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country, Prof. K.T. Djan-Fordjour, Rector of Sunyani Polytechnic, has observed.

He said despite the important role of TVET plays in the economic development, especially in the area of training the requisite workforce for industries, very little has been done by policy-makers to revitalise TVET in Ghana.

“It is worrying to see how people who should have known better play down technical and vocational education. For 56 years of nationhood building, apart from Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana who took concrete steps to establish many technical institutions, successive governments have not shown commitment in technical and vocational education and training Ghana,” the Sunyani Polytechnic Rector stated.

Prof. Djan-Fordjour made these remarks in a speech read for him at the 4th Speech and Prize Giving Day of Twene Amanfo Senior High Technical School in Sunyani.

His speech focused on “The Future of Technical and Vocational Education and Training: The Role of Stakeholders”.

“The purpose of technical and vocational education training is to develop the minds of people to acquire practical knowledge or skills in industrial and scientific acumen in specific trades, craftsmanship and careers at various levels. But the poor perception that TVET is an option reserved for those unable to achieve the grades to enter into higher grammar education is traditionally limiting the numbers of young people going into TVET.”

Prof. Djan-Fordjour stressed the need for the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) and its allied agencies to take practical steps to address the issues of negative attitudes and perceptions through programmes to enhance the image of TVET.

“Government should be seen to be leading the crusade by investing in infrastructure development, supply of equipment to the existing technical and vocational institutions, creating employment avenues for TVET graduates, and making financial supports available to master craftsmen to set up their own businesses,” he added.

He also entreated NGOs and other private organisations such as the Local Enterprises and Skills Development Programme, LESDEP, to focus their attention on building more TVET schools and centres to promote the cause.

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