Fawohoyeden (B/A), July 26, GNA - Mr R.K. Bedzra, Brong-Ahafo Regional Coordinator of National Youth Council has appealed to the Council's Board of Trustees to consider opening a debate on the replacement of the existing National Vocational Training Institute Grade Two in the Youth Leadership Training Institute with NVTI Grade One. Mr Bedzra said the proposed change would not only entice more youth into the institutes but would also qualify their graduates to pursue further laurels.

He made the proposal at a reception for Madam Janet Kwami, a member of NYC Board of Trustees, who paid a one-day familiarization visit to the Youth Leadership Training Institute at Fawohoyeden in Asunafo District.

Mr Bedzra called on the new Board to work hard to uplift the image of the Council.

He appealed to the institutes to put emphasis on follow-up programmes to ensure that their products were well established. Madam Kwami expressed regret that the long absence of a substantive Board for the Council had placed it in an awkward position among its peers.

She gave the assurance that the new board had taken off and there was every indication that the council's fortunes would soon begin to show.

Madam Kwami commended the Fawohoyeden Institute for its achievements despite its poor teaching and learning facilities and urged it to keep up the performance.

Mr Stephen Atuahene, the school's principal, appealed to the Board to tackle the problems of perennial water shortage and to improve its infrastructure.

"In spite of these problems the institute is annually faced with the call to increase its intake beyond the stipulated figure of 150 students, placing more pressure on its limited resources", the principal said.

In an open forum both students and teachers of the school appealed for basic infrastructure and security measures to protect and sustain discipline in the school.

The teachers called for a review of their monthly salaries, which they claimed was "too meagre to take us home".

They alleged that all appeals to the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to intervene and improve the status of their salaries had not received any response.