Country needs vocational, technical skills for industrialization-Dr Darko

A senior lecture has said Ghana needed vocational and technical skills to support its industrialization drive and the attainment of middle-level income status.
Dr Joseph Ofei Darko of the College of Engineering of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) said Ghana needed technical and entrepreneurial manpower towards an accelerated development.
He was speaking at the graduation of 77 students of the Ramseyer Vocational and Technical Institute, under the theme: “The Importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training in the Nation's Development”, at Kyirapatre in Kumasi on Saturday.
Dr Darko commended government for establishing the National Council for Technical and Vocational Training, under the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, to implement a national post-basic technical and vocational education and training system to guide policy makers and sensitize the public on government's new vision for technical and vocational education and training.
He noted that in the current globalised economy, the impact of high technology on occupation, the setting of higher performance standards by employers and the demand for employees with specialized training skills had made technical and vocational education training imperative.
Dr Darko said “it is heart-warming that governments all over Africa are now focusing on the training of vocational and technical personnel as a means of propelling their manufacturing sector forward and helping to reduce the rate of unemployment.”
He urged authorities of technical and vocational institutes to look for alternative sources of funding to finance research work and replace obsolete equipment, to supplement government subvention.
Dr Ofei advised students to take their studies seriously students and desist from indiscipline and hooliganism that could affect their development.
Mr. Emmanuel Appiah, principal, said the institute established in 1976 with 30 students, now had student population of 277.
He said the institute offered courses in catering, fashion and design, block laying and concreting, dressmaking and hairdressing.
Mr. Appiah said that out of the 158 students presented in 2007 for the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) Examination, 125 passed representing 80 per cent whiles 52 candidates out of 72 candidates passed the Intermediate Examination, representing 72.2 per cent.
He appealed to government, individuals and organizations to assist the institute to build additional classroom blocks and kitchen and acquire a bus and other educational facilities to enhance teaching and learning.
The graduands were presented with certificates and working tools donated by its German partners, Kassel Educational Fund.