Change perceptions about technical/vocational schools - V.P

Asuansi (C/R), March 2, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama on Saturday said the good intentions of government to transform technical education would not yield the expected dividends unless people's perceptions about that category of education changed. He said technical education should not be seen as the last resort for failures and that it equally deserves first grade students and efforts should be made by all to encourage them. Vice President Mahama said this in remarks read for him at the 86th Speech and Prize-giving day of Asuansi Technical Institute at Asuansi in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankesse district.

The event was under the theme: "Technical education, the bedrock of effective technological development". Vice President Mahama said considering the importance of technical and vocation training in the new educational reform, government would provide funds for the expansion of infrastructure in all technical institutes in the country.

The Vice President said under the reform programme, a council for technical, vocational, educational and training (COTVET) would be established during the year to guide policy makers and sensitize the public on government's new focus on education. He said the government would also continue to liaise with industries to provide places for teachers and students of technical institutes for industrial attachment, adding that the interventions were meant to give greater meaning to the fact that technical education could serve as the bedrock of the nation's development. He appealed to students to be motivated by old students who are holding top positions in big companies and institutions to serve as role models and thus inspire them to give of their best.

Vice President Mahama said plans were on course for the construction of second phase of the Abakrampa Junction-Abakrampa-Asuansi road, to help facilitate the movement of people and goods in the area. Dr A.K Dzisi Rector of Ho Polytechnic, who was the guest speaker, said for Ghana to develop, there was need for a critical mass of well trained and highly competent technical personnel to keep the engine of growth running.

Mr Isaac Ezeh, Principal of the Institute, said to increase female enrolment, two new "female friendly" programmes -- fashion and designing and business studies with options for secretariat and accounting -- were introduced in 2007/08.

Mr Ezeh commended the government for selecting Asuansi technical Institute as one of the first batch of technical schools to be upgraded and resourced to provide a more effective and efficient training to students.

He appealed to old students, philanthropists, parent-teacher association and the board of governors to assist the school to get good drinking water, a modern library, classrooms and dormitories, an assembly hall, masters' bungalows and a generator. 02 Mar. 08