President cuts sod for upgrade of TVET infrastructure

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday cut the sod for the commencement of work for the upgrade and modernisation of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system in Ghana.

The project, with a cost of US$131,657,198, will see the refurbishment of the existing Infrastructure and construction of new infrastructure for the existing 34 NVTI centres, two foundries and machine shops to be built at the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

At a ceremony at the premises of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in Accra, President Akufo-Addo expressed discontent about the low capacity in skills development in Ghana’s educational system, which stifled the development of the country’s modern self-reliant economy.

“We shall be able to transform Ghana’s economy and reduce unemployment, when we pay attention to technical and vocational training. That is where the skills are needed for the growth of the modern economy.

“What I envisage in the technical and vocational education sector would involve a truly radical change in attitude on the part of all of us,” he said.

The President was emphatic that his government would back Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) with political will and the needed financial resources to enhance the self-reliance, industrialisation and modernisation of the country.

“We have to do everything we can to enhance our self-reliance and capacity to drive our industrial and economic transformation ourselves, and that is the project of Ghana Beyond Aid.

“That is why we are launching this major project to help emphasise the importance of TVET, and redeem the misconception that technical and vocational education is inferior, and patronised only by less endowed students,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo disclosed that the first component of the project comprised refurbishing the existing Infrastructure and construction of new infrastructure for the existing 34 NVTI centres; refurbishing the existing Infrastructure and construction of new Head office, 10 regional offices and five apprenticeship offices.

It would also involve the procurement of equipment for 26 trades and ICT equipment for all 34 NVTI centres; competency based training to cover 700 trainers across 34 NVTIs; course curriculum alignment and content development for the 26 trades; project management: resources and manpower; and transport facilities that is. the provision of a 33-seater bus for each of the 34 NVTIs and 4×4 Pickups for the head office and regional office.

The second component of the project, the President revealed would comprise the setting up of two new training centres for foundry and machining workshops, with one at the CSIR centre in Accra, and the other at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

He added that it would also include building and developing infrastructure for the two new vocational training centres; procurement of equipment, including; training equipment for Foundry and ICT equipment; competency based training for the trainers in these centres; course curriculum alignment and content development; project management: resources and manpower; and transport facilities, thus the provision of a 33-seater bus.

The third and final component of this project, President Akufo-Addo indicated, comprised the upgrading of existing Opportunities Industrialization Centres in Greater Accra.

“Government believes that this integrated approach will improve the quality of our TVET system across the entire educational system, and result in the empowering of our youth. We must work hard in ensuring that our youth do not see technical and vocational education as a last option, when considering their future,” he said.

The President was hopeful that the project would contribute more effectively to the creation of a confident, skilled population in s “soon to be prosperous Ghana”.

He exhorted the project contractors to deliver the projects on time and on budget.

The project will be carried out by the Consortium of P.C. Education Africa Ventures and SUMEC Complete Equipment & Engineering Company Limited.

The contract agreement between the consortium and Government of Ghana was executed on 5th July, 2018.