17-member COTVET Board inaugurated

A 17-member reconstituted board of the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) has been sworn into office.  

The Chairman of the Chartered Institute Of Building (CIOB) Ghana, Rockson K. Dogbegah is chairing the new board.  

Other members include the Commissioner of Insurance, Lydia Lariba Bawa and the Chief Executive of the Association of Ghana Industries, Seth Twum Akwaboah.  Also is the Executive Secretary of the National Inspectorate Board, Dr. George Afeti, the Executive Director of COTVET, Sebastian Dei  and Samuel Zan Akalogo of the National Catholic Secretariat among others.

The new board was sworn into office on Friday 20 th February, 2015 by the Education Minister, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman. 

In his acceptance speech on behalf of the other members, Mr. Dogbegah expressed the board's commitment to work with management in advancing the cause of the council in the socio-economic development of the country.

“Undoubtedly, Technical and Vocational Education and Training plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of every nation. For instance, the developed countries like Japan, USA, Germany and the transition economies have achieved significant success in their development aspirations, because of the crucial emphasis placed on TVET and associated competency-based training. Hon. Minister, we are aware of the mismatch between acquired skills and market needs, widespread concern about poor quality training and training environments in the country, and the negative public attitudes and perceptions regarding technical and vocational education and training in Ghana among others” he said.

He added that the board shall pursue strategic objectives to create the necessary environment to help bridge the gap between industry and academia.

“We shall also continue in the effort of making technical and vocational education more appealing and acceptable to reduce unemployment and poverty.  We would seriously consider an annual open day to espouse the benefits of TVET to make it attractive and a first option programme and not playing second fiddle to grammar” he concluded.