Nandom: Students and teachers of the St. John's Technical Vocational Institute in Nandom are anticipating major relief in practical skills training following the handing over of a site for the construction of a modern technical workshop facility.
According to Ghana News Agency, the project is being implemented by the Social Investment Fund (SIF) with funding support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Post COVID-19 Skills Development and Productivity Enhancement Project (PSDPEP). The initiative is valued at about GHS6.74 million.
For years, students and instructors at the Institute have struggled with limited workshop space and obsolete equipment, making practical lessons difficult in a school established to provide hands-on technical and vocational training. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency after the site handing-over ceremony in Nandom, some students said participating in practical sessions was often challenging because of the inadequate workshop space, forcing some students to remain outside during lessons.
Miss Gifty Pogbansie Bonyobo, a Building Construction Technology student, said: 'Some of us will be in the practical hall, and some of us will have to move out and stand in the sun, which is not helping us.' She expressed hope that the new facility would significantly improve practical learning and benefit future generations of students.
Master Gerald Asogyolkor Asakiya, another student, mentioned that despite the commitment of teachers, infrastructure challenges nearly discouraged him from continuing at the school. He explained that inadequate, faulty, and obsolete equipment continued to hinder effective practical training.
Teachers at the Institute also expressed frustration over years of attempting to teach practical-oriented courses without standard workshops and modern equipment. Mr Justine Apio, a Plumbing and Glass Fitting Technology teacher, stated that practical lessons were sometimes conducted in ordinary classrooms but remained optimistic that the new project would provide a standard workshop environment.
Mr Prosper Puo-Ire, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SIF, said the intervention formed part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana's technical and vocational education sector following lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized the importance of building resilience and ensuring youth are equipped with contemporary skills.
The school currently has a population of 1,249 students pursuing programmes in various technologies. The project is being executed by Brison Construction Company Limited, with Knak Design Partnership serving as consultant, and is expected to be completed within 12 months. The single-storey facility will house three workshops and include ancillary facilities such as washrooms, a creche, breastfeeding rooms, storage rooms, and offices, among others.