By Dorothy Frances Ward
Kumasi, Feb. 03 GNA – Dr William Amankra Appiah, Ashanti Regional Director of Education, has reiterated government committed to strengthen technical and vocational education (TVET) to provide requisite skills for job creation and employment among the youth.
He said industry participation in TVET education was a key pillar in the transformation agenda, adding that, government was providing the needed support and incentives to TVET institutions to enahnce teachning and learning as well as industrial intenrships.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Kumasi, Dr Appiah, pointed out that, the objective was to make TVET education attractive for more young people to enrol and acquire empoyable skills.
He said TVET was currently thriving in the region, as stakeholders intensified partnerships with government agencies, educational institutions and industry to equip the youth with practical emplyable skills for their future.
He mentioned that the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) had established strategic platforms to bridge the gap between TVET schools and tertiary education.
KsTU had also inaugurated a dedicated committee to enhance engagement with 38 -TVET institutions in the region.
This he added, was aimed at linking classroom learning with practical industry experience to improve employment outcomes for graduates.
He stressed the importance of integrating private sector inputs into curriculum design and skills delivery.
This would improve productivity and strengthen the competitiveness of skilled labour force, he noted.
Dr. Appiah said the Akenteng Appiah-Menka Universitty of Skills Training and Enterpreneural Development (AAMUSTED), had also initiated a five-year TVET training in Agriculture.
This is also to ensure economic empowerment and foster sustainable livelihoods for graduates.
Additionally, the Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) had initiated partnership with Design and Technology Institute (DTI) to promote presicion quality in TVET.
The partnership focuses on retooling key departments such as Carpentry, Upholstery, Fashion Design, Welding and Fabrication to integrate competency-based curriculum to align training with industry needs to enhance youth employability.
Ms. Constance Swaniker, Founder and President of DTI told the Ghana News Agency that, the upgraded training environment would benefit over 4,000 students at KTI as well as unemployed youth from surrounding communities.
The gesture, she said was contributing to efforts to reduce graduate unemployment and strengthen livelihoods.
The Institute recently signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 35 -TVET institutions across the region to foster closer partnerships that bolster workforce development, promote employability and enhance industry competitiveness.
Miss Swaniker said, sharpening the relevance of TVET programmes in Kumasi was essential not only for job creation, but also for broader socio-economic development.
She said this could be achieved by supplying industry with trained technicians, artisans and entrepreneurs, while addressing chronic skills shortages in the regional economy.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Kenneth Odeng Adade