Apam (C/R), Oct 7, GNA - The National Association of Beauticians and Hairdressers (NABH), is to award a Diploma to its members instead of a certificate as from next year after a three-year training. The Association would collaborate with the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) to award the Diploma to enable the certificate to gain international recognition.

Ms Margaret Brown, Central Region President of the Association, made this known at the passing out of 25 hairdressers of the Gomoa District branch at Apam.

She urged old members and apprentices to study hard to enable them to sit for the Diploma explaining that illiterates would not be entertained in the profession.

Ms Brown said the Association would organise workshops and seminars for the members to upgrade their knowledge to enable them to train apprentices about the practice and ethics of the profession. She advised the members to desist from using hair products that had expired and substandard ones to improve their businesses and to protect their customers.

The Regional President called on parents in the Association to take proper care of their children especially girls when they send them to urban centres to learn trades since starvation could force them into social vices and immorality.

Ms Brown said that the Association has broken away from the mother organisation due to a misunderstanding.

Ms Sarah Boison, Gomoa District President of the Association, said the more than 250 apprentices had been trained and were on their own now.

Ms Hannah Edina Quaye, Secretary of the Association, said the District had been demarcated into 10 zones to carter for the training of more girls to enable them to take care of themselves and their families. She advised those who passed out to apply the skills they had acquired during their three-year training instead of indulging in habits that could dent the image of the Association.

Ms Quaye said the Association had been organising weekly meetings to impart skills to apprentices and urged them to take their training seriously.

The Secretary cautioned the apprentices to desist from pre-marital sex to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.