Professor of Educational Leadership of the Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA) and former Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cape Coast, Prof. George K.T Oduro has outlined the importance of the technical and vocational education and training (TVET] to the development of Ghana.

The UCC Professor has emphasized that the development Ghana aims at as a nation, the peace, poverty eradication, fight against climate change and the challenges the country has inherited from COVID-19 without TVET, can achieve but nothing.

He made this statement in his address as the main speaker at the 12th graduation and exhibition ceremony of the Biriwa Technical Institute in the Central Region on Saturday on the theme, "Stakeholders Synergy: The Key Solution to the Dearth of Quality TVET Service Delivery."

According to Prof. Oduro, unlike general education that focuses on developing individuals broader-based and theoretical knowledge. TVET focuses on developing career specific practical skills and competencies necessary for addressing labour market needs in fields like construction, hospitality, technology, engineering, nursing and healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing and other workforce needs.

The Professor of Educational Leadership further admonished TVET to aim at equipping individuals, particularly young ones, with requisite skills and competencies for employment, entrepreneurship, career advancement and advanced specialist educational programmes. Adding that TVET isn't a 21st century phenomenon but has been with the country long before the advent of the school type of education being witnessed today.

Ms. Mawusi Nudekor Awity, Director General for Ghana TVET Service at the ceremony, commended parents for allowing their children enroll under technical education instead of grammar school, but charged them to acquire the needed working tools for their wards in other not to have them abandon their acquired skills to stay ideal after graduation. 

She urged graduands not to relax after graduation, waiting for someone to employ them but should strive to start something even under trees with their skills. 

Manager of Biriwa Technical Institute, Engineer Samuel Kwashie Amegbor remarked that graduands exit from school to face the real world, connotes the begining of new prospects, new task, and new reason to rejoice.

He announced with pride that since 2016, the school has achieved 75% - over 80% pass rate in its external exams like NABPTEX, Cert 1&2, and Proficiency 1&2, as the institute on the average, scored 82% in 2020, 80% in 2021, 84% in 2022 and 87% in 2023 and competed in the world skills competition (stem-novation) at zonal level, winning the building and construction category and look forward to represent the zone at national level.

He certified that the institute’s 2022 tracer studies attests not far from quality TVET provision, since 75.4% of its graduates are successfully employed whiles 17.4% are furthering their education, with some 7% of graduates since 2019 not practicing their acquired skills.

Engineer Kwashie Amegbor also implored graduands that as they go out as solutions to TVET problems, they should embrace challenges with hope, persevere and never stop learning, since they are the future leaders and the ones to shape the world. 

The 12th graduation and exhibition ceremony of the Biriwa Technical Institute saw 229 students graduate from varied fields of study like Motor Vehicle Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, and Wood Construction Technology.

While others graduated from courses like Building and Construction Technology, Welding and Fabrication Technology, Leatherworks Technology, Fashion Design Technology, Hospitality and Catering Management, and Refrigeration and Airconditioning Technology having completed their four-year study period and satisfied all school requirements.

 Sompaonline.com//Eric Annan