Sunyani: Mr. Gabriel Gyamfi, the Bono Regional Director of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), has refuted the misconception that TVET education is solely for those who are academically challenged. He emphasized the pivotal role of TVET in tackling unemployment and propelling the nation's industrialization, urging families to motivate their children to pursue TVET.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Gyamfi highlighted that the country's TVET education is undergoing significant reforms aimed at bridging academic and industry gaps for students. This statement came during the handover of a site by the Social Investment Fund for constructing a state-of-the-art Climate Resilient Center at the Nsoatre Technical and Vocational Institute (NVTI) in the Sunyani West Municipality.
The project, managed by Accra-based TRACEF Construction and Engineering Limited, involves the construction of a GHC6.5 million center expected to be completed within a year. The center will specialize in wood technology, fashion design, and digital skills, equipped with modern facilities to provide students with practical skills that match the evolving job market and promote sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative is part of the 'Rebuilding Youth and Women's Livelihoods through Entrepreneurship and Employment Creation' segment of the Post COVID-19 Skills Development and Productivity Enhancement Project (PSDPEP). In June 2022, the Government of Ghana formalized a five-year agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to implement the PSDPEP, funded by a US$28.5 million grant to aid Ghana's sustainable recovery post-COVID-19.
Mr. Gyamfi also revealed that financial clearance has been granted this year for employing more TVET tutors. Mr. MacDonald Acquah, representing Mr. Abass Adams-Nurudeen, CEO of the SIF, officially handed over the site to the contractor.
He mentioned that similar infrastructure projects are underway at other technical institutes across the regions, urging the contractor to adhere to approved designs, timelines, quality standards, and environmental and safety protocols. Mr. Acquah stressed the importance of considering environmental safeguards, climate resilience, social inclusion, and gender issues, as prioritized by the AfDB.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Alexander Sabi, the Principal of NTVI, sought further support for facilities like workshops, staff offices, washroom facilities, and dining and assembly halls to accommodate the institute's 1,169 students. He also appealed for assistance to secure the institute's perimeter for enhanced security.