NVTI Introduces 3 Compulsory Subjects

THE National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) has made Mathematics, English Language and Entrepreneurial skills compulsory in its curriculum to make products more marketable.

Previously, the three subjects were optional.

By this, NVTI will for the first time formalise the syllabi on the three subjects in vocational training in the country where trainees would be assessed as part of their vocational training qualifications.

The director of NVTI, Stephen Bismark Amponsah, speaking at the launch of the syllabi, said the introduction of the three subjects in the NVTI curriculum forms part of the requirements of the new educational reform which also responds to the quest to improve skills training in the country.

He said, in the quest to improve vocational training as a result of the socio-economic orientation for societal shift, it became necessary for its education and training systems to respond to such shifts.

Mr. Amponsah explained that the materials have been carefully put together by a team of experts in the institute’s standards unit to make graduates of the vocational and training institutions very competent both for self-employment and for technical and vocational education training qualifications.

'Indeed, what we are doing today is the result of many years of hardwork with regards to its content and quality, which compares favourably with the materials in use in all the second cycle schools,' he noted.

He said with the outdooring of the syllabi, the first batch of trainees would be assessed in June 2009.

Mr. Amponsah explained that efforts were being made to provide training for all instructors who will use the materials.

He, therefore, appealed to institutions to contribute to the training.

He said 'it is envisaged that with the new scheme of arrangements, mathematics will be taught for 840 hours, English for 672 hours and entrepreneurial skills for 504 hours with practicals being 840 in the first two years of centre training'.

He reminded trainees of vocational and technical institutes that they have to pass this foundation programme as they proceed in their specialisation and grades two and one.

Mr. Amponsah said at present, there exists 38 public and over 600 private technical and vocational institutes nationwide. He said the NVTI conducts external examination for 30,000 vocational training and 8,000 secretarial graduates each year.