Anloga, (V/R) Oct. 31, GNA -The Government has been asked to consider, as a matter of urgency the establishment of a technical and vocational teachers training programme which would turn out teachers for the Junior Secondary School (JSS) level. The authorities should also introduce a four-year Diploma in Basic Technical and Vocational Education (DBTVE) course for the technical and vocational institute who would qualify for the technical/vocational teachers programme.

The National Conference of Principals of Teacher Training Colleges (PRINCOF) made the call in a fraternal message to the Association of Principals of Technical Institutes (APTI) during its 21st five-day annual conference, which ended at the weekend at Anloga. It said a serious view should be taken of training of technical teachers, as done for other categories.

"It is a fact that we don't have the qualified teachers to handle technical and vocational subjects at the JSS level", the message noted. "It is only by providing teachers needed to change the phase of technical/vocational education that we could be seen as being serious about re-directing our education from the mainly arts subjects", it added.

PRINCOF also suggested the setting up of a separate joint conference between it and APTI to discuss matters of mutual concern. The theme of the APTI conference was "Encouraging more Female Participation in Male Dominated Technical/Vocational Education and Training (TVET): a Major Contribution to the Country's Socio-Economic Development.

Mr John Boafo, Principal of Takoradi Technical Institute and APTI President called for the removal of problems inhibiting female participation in TVET to enable them to play their role in national development.

He mentioned low placement and low remuneration of teachers in the sector, weak linkage between TVET and industry, low regard and perception about TVET by the public as some of the problems bedeviling the sector.

Mr Kwame Amporfo Twumasi, Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Technical and Secondary Education said government was committed to developing technical and vocational education in the country, explaining that the proposed formation of a National Council of TVET in the Education Reform White Paper was meant to solve problems in the sector.