Starting from next academic year, students and parents of the Technical and Vocational education system will have a sort of relief as they will also benefit from the Free SHS policy by the government. According to the Deputy Minister of Education, Gifty Twum Ampofo, who revealed this, two second cycle educational bills have been laid before Parliament by the Ministry of Education to transform the TVET system in the country.
These bills, when passed next academic year according to her, will bring Technical/Vocation education and Senior High School educational system under one umbrella of the Ministry of Education and will be managed by one Director.
Gifty Twum Ampofo revealed this when she addressed the 1st Graduation and Inauguration of Girls Hostel of the Yamfo Vocational Training Institute in Tano North of the Ahafo region.
The Yamfo Vocational Training Institute was established in August 1977 through the initiative of the then Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, Bishop Kwadwo Owusu. The 1st graduation since its inception and the Inauguration of the Girls Hostel was on the theme, “Making TVET the back bone of Ghana’s Economy”.
It was attended by the Deputy Minister of Education who is also the MP for Abuakwa North, Gifty Twum Ampofo, MP for Tano North, Freda Prempeh, the clergy and Chiefs and people of Yamfo.
Welcoming the gathering, the Manager of Yamfo Vocational Training Institute, Eng. Philip Effah Atakora explained that construction works on the girls’ hostel was on hold before he assumed office in January 2017, hence his resolve to mobilise funds for its completion. He however admonished the government to see TVET as the back bone of development in the country.
He further commended the government for the initiative to restructure TVET in the country.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Gifty Twum Ampofo for her part said, “TVET is the backbone of every country’s development hence the theme of the occasion is very appropriate.”
She said to transform Ghana’s TVET system, the Ministry of Education has laid two educational bills, the Pre-tertiary bill and the Education regulators bill before Parliament that will allow Technical and Vocational Institutions to benefit from the Free SHS policy from next academic year.
Gifty Twum Ampofo then entreated students and graduands to be globally competitive as the world is advancing. In all, 97 students graduated with NVTI certificate in the various fields in the Technical and Vocation education sector.
Story filed by Daniel Donkor.
