Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Apaak, says Ghana is positioning its Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector along the lines of industrialised nations.
Dr Apaak made the remarks on Wednesday after touring selected TVET institutions in Accra during the ongoing final examinations for students in the technical and vocational sector.
The deputy minister visited the Accra Technical Training Centre and the Opportunities Industrialisation Technical Institute (OITI), where he monitored the examinations and interacted with school authorities and students.
Speaking to journalists after the tour, Dr Apaak said the government was determined to strengthen technical and vocational education because of its importance to national development and industrial growth.
“And we look up to countries like Japan, like Singapore, like South Korea, like China, like Malaysia, even America and Germany,” he stated.
“One of the reasons why they have progressed the way they have is because they gave a lot of attention to and invested in and encouraged their students to take up TVET,” he added.
According to him, Ghana was moving in a similar direction by promoting technical and vocational education among young people.
“So that is where we are moving towards,” Dr Apaak stressed.
He noted that increasing enrolment figures in the sector showed growing interest among students in technical and vocational education.
“We are excited because we are seeing an increase in the number of students who are opting for TVET as their line of academic and professional pursuit,” he said.
Dr Apaak disclosed that more than 61,500 students across the country were currently sitting for the ongoing examinations, representing an increase of slightly above eight per cent compared to last year’s figures.
He also highlighted measures being pursued by the government to support the sector, including the proposed TVET Fund currently before Parliament.
The Deputy Minister said President John Dramani Mahama had outlined clear commitments on TVET in the National Democratic Congress’ 2024 manifesto, while Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu was already implementing policies aimed at improving technical and vocational education nationwide.
He added that the education minister had secured a five-million-euro grant from Italy dedicated to supporting TVET development in Ghana.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
