School dropouts to be given skill training

Nerebehi (Ash), July 7, GNA- Mr Charles Yeboah, Atwima District Chief Executive (DCE), has said the District Assembly places premium on education and acquisition of skills by the youth especially school dropouts in the district. He said without effective education there cannot be development and gave the assurance that the unemployed would be encouraged and supported to acquire productive and employable skills at the two Integrated Community Centres for Employable Skills (ICCES) at Nerebehi and Otaakrom, all in Ashanti. Mr Yeboah was speaking at the graduation ceremony of 39 trainees from Nerebehi ICCES as part of the government's Skills Training and Employment Placement (STEP) programme. The trainees who were taught textile making, food processing, soap, pomade and powder making, and were each presented with a certificate. Mr Yeboah donated 10 million cedis on behalf of the assembly to help improve facilities at the Nerebehi ICCES and urged the youth to take advantage of the STEP programme to acquire skills. Nana Anthony Boateng, Ashanti Regional ICCES Co-ordinator, said the seven branches of the ICCES in the region had trained 1,515 persons in the STEP programme. He asked the trainees to form co-operatives to enable them to qualify for credit facilities. Mr R.Y. Baah, Manager of the Nerebehi ICCES, mentioned inadequate tools, equipment and infrastructure as major problems facing the centre and called for support and assistance.