According to Gifty Twum Ampofo, deputy minister of education, changing people's perceptions of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is necessary for the nation to realise its industrialization goal.
The idea that such talents were intended for individuals with low intelligence had to be destroyed, she said, in order to increase the number of students and young people who were keen to learn the skills. Skilled technical and vocational employees were crucial for the country to industrialise.
When you see some of the devices and equipment they use, you'll need to be quite bright to understand how to run them, Mrs. Ampofo said, therefore it is never accurate that TVET is exclusively performed by those who lack intelligence.
Roundtable
Yesterday in Accra, the deputy minister participated in a roundtable discussion on TVET's Vocational Training for Females (VTF) programme that was sponsored by a Presbyterian non-governmental organisation (NGO).
"Beyond the Reforms: Gains, Challenges, and Way Forward in Advancing TVET in Ghana" was the focus of the conversation.
It gathered specialists, government representatives, TVET practitioners, business leaders, and students, among others, to discuss challenges impacting the sector and offer ideas to guide policy reform for the sector's advancement.
An 11-member Advocacy Committee, comprised of members from organisations interested in youth development and national socioeconomic transition, was established as part of the event.
The committee will assist the program's work by serving as its spokesperson and involving stakeholders, actors, and players in the TVET arena to express sectoral issues and work together to address them.
Collaboration
The deputy minister in charge of TVET, Mrs. Ampofo, advised parents not to enrol their kids in TVET programmes merely because they struggled in regular education.
She also urged businesses to work with educational institutions by hosting interns and giving students the chance to gain real-world experience.
"You should think of them as unpaid workers who, with the right instruction, may increase your production.
The Deputy Minister of Education stated, "They are not there to make photocopies for you and purchase 'waakye' for you.
Rose Karikari Anang, the deputy chair of the National Labour Commission, urged advocacy organisations to intensify their battle against the misconceptions regarding vocational and technical education, claiming that "there's too much quietness on the advocacy front."
The event's chair, Mrs. Anang, asked for the creation of intensive courses for technical and vocational professionals so they could become part of the national qualification system and build their confidence.
Linda Agyei, the director of the VTF Programme, stated that the organisation remained dedicated to advancing the TVET agenda since it was the key to reducing poverty, fostering peace, safeguarding the environment, and enhancing quality of life.
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