Support Technical and Vocational Training- Asamoah Doudu

BY DELADEM KISSEIH, ELMINA

The Director for Technical and Vocational Training at the Ghana Education Service, Mr Asamoah Doudu, has stressed the need for government to direct its attention to skills training as a means of generating foreign exchange for the nation.

Speaking to TODAY, after a tour of the Mother of Good Counsel Vocational Institute (MOGOOD College) at Sanka in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem (KEEA) municipality of the Central Region, Mr Asamoah noted that, when trained persons are able to turn their skills into products which are on higher demand elsewhere, it will enable the nation to export those products and bring in foreign earnings as is being done by the advanced countries which manufacture automobiles.

Mr Asamoah regretted that over the years both government and several private educational institutions have concentrated on training in the academia with little emphasis on technical and vocational training.

This according to him will result in the situation where graduates with excellent academic laurels will be walking on the streets without jobs.

He also stressed the need for government to provide support to private technical and vocational institutions just as the public institutions as they also contribute to the development of the nation. He said Ghanaians must dispel the notion that private educational institutions were only aimed at making money for individual pockets arguing, “the products they churn out in turn provide invaluable services to the nation.”

“Government over the years have been providing support to students and educational institutions from the taxes paid by the Ghanaian parent so why should some categories of educational institutions be exempted from benefiting from those resources”, he queried ?

MOGOOD College established eight years ago offers courses in Fashion, Catering, Beadwork and other related subjects up to Advance Level. The school also boasts of excellent classrooms and dormitories for students.

The Principal of the school, Madam Esther Rhule, on her part noted that, her decision to establish the school was as a result of the compassion she has for the teeming unemployed youth in the area and not to make money for herself.

The school has produced several students who are currently working with renowned companies in the hospitality industry.

She said the school is presently constructing additional structures to accommodate more students.

She therefore called on the KEEA Assembly, the MP for the area and other interested organizations and individuals to assist them.