By Bertha Badu-Agyei
Accra, Sept 15, GNA – A Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Advocacy group has called on Dr Yaw Adutwum, Minister of Education to discuss matters arising from the reforms in the sector.
The group under the auspices of the Vocational Training for Females (VTF) Programme a not-for-profit organization, is made up of TVET experts from regulatory bodies, Training institutions, media, industry, and civil Society to raise awareness on the sector.
Whiles the group commended Dr Yaw Adutwum, for the remarkable transformation of the TVET sector under his able leadership, they noted that there were issues to be addressed to ensure a sustainable TVET sector.
The group mentioned the free TVET, retooling and refurbishment of Technical and Vocational institutions as well as the promotion of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education as some of the significant transformation in the sector.
Some of the gaps captured in a position paper presented to the Minister included TVET reforms and institutional arrangements, CBT accreditation and access and collaboration between TVET, training institutions and industry.
Ms Linda Agyei, Director of the VTF Programme, describe the TVET reforms now as a sector under revolution and highly commended the Minister for his able leadership and direction which was creating the needed impact in the sector.
However, she noted that there were issues which needed to be addressed, to avoid the potholes in the implementation likely to derail the smooth take off and drive of the TVET reforms.
Mr Tsonam Akpeloo, Chairman of the Advocacy Group and leading member of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) commended the Minister for the five-year strategic plan for the TVET sector.
The Minister on his part, said focus must shift from the long-held perception that TVET equipped the youth to only set up their own small businesses or become entrepreneurs from the scratch to a well-defined sector to feed industry and the labour market.
That, he said, was part of the objectives of the transformation drive to introduce standardisation in the TVET sector so that students would be absorbed by the labour market or industry to define the critical role of TVET in creating Job opportunities to for the youth and impact on the economy.
The Minister was grateful for the visit and the observations made and assured them that the Ministry was ready to work with all stakeholders to boost the TVET sector.
GNA