Bono East celebrates International Day of the girl child turning this vision into action for gender equality.
The Bono East Region marked the International Day of the Girl Child with a celebration at Nkoranza Technical Institute's assembly hall on Friday, October 11, 2024. The event aimed to promote gender equality and empower girls to pursue their dreams.
Appiah Bismarck, the Bono East Regional Director for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), emphasized the importance of girls' participation in technical and vocational education.
Vocational education provides people with occupational or work-related awareness, knowledge, skills, and attitude. It prepares people to work as technicians or work in a skilled craft or trade as tradespersons or artisans. Vocational Education is also the type of education given to an individual to prepare them to be gainfully employed or self-employed with the requisite skills.
Developing vocational skills in young girls has many benefits. They learn valuable life skills and build confidence as well as self-esteem. Vocational skills also teach responsibility, discipline, self-reliance, and perseverance. These skills help young girls to become independent adults who can support themselves and make informed choices about their future.
Vocational skills are those that help people earn a living. For example, a person who has developed vocational skills could work in a factory making cars, in a restaurant kitchen, in a woodshop, repairing computers/cell phones, or fixing household appliances.
In many areas, vocational training has been limited to boys and men. Having girls in these field is groundbreaking and essential to moving towards a more equitable workforce. We include vocational education as part of the curriculum for our girls to complement their learning, expand their potential, and improve their prospects in the labor market.
Speaking on the theme, "Our Generation: The Impact of the Digital Age on Learning for Girls in TVET," he stressed that gender equality is crucial for Ghana's development, aiming girls vision to thrive in their lives.
He emphasized the need for empowering girls in the digital economy to offer soft and hard skills.
"The TVET policy has been designed to build a future for our young girls, where they can proudly follow their dreams," Mr. Appiah stated.
He encouraged girls to focus on their aspirations despite challenges and discouragement from others. "We must break down barriers and create opportunities for girls to succeed in STEM fields and other male-dominated industries", he added.
Mr. Appiah highlighted TVET's initiatives to promote gender equality, including mentorship programs and collaborations with industry partners to provide job opportunities.
"We are committed to empowering girls with skills and knowledge to compete globally," he concluded.
Mavis Akua Adjei, Gender Desk Officer and Public Relations Officer for Ghana TVET service in the Bono East Region, highlighted the need for digital education to empower girls. "As the world moves digitally, Ghanaian girls must participate in digital and technological training to meet international standards," she said.
Adjei commended young women pursuing education through technical skills, noting they're doing better than before.
She also emphasized the importance of digital literacy for girls, opining that they can exhibit their skills on digital platforms through the internet.
She encouraged others to join technical schools, embracing this new generational era.
"Our young women are equipping themselves and demonstrating that they can do what men were doing, and that has been a good impact on the young women who have entered TVET programs," Adjei concluded.
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