Kukurantumi (E/R), April 24, GNA - The government is to give greater attention and more financial support to the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system to enable it provide access to graduates of the junior secondary school and senior secondary schools.

Mr Asamoah Duodu, the Director of Technical and Vocational Division of the Ghana Education Service (GES), said this at the Speech and Prize-Giving day of the St Paul's Technical School Kukurantumi on Saturday. He said when the TVET Act is passed TVET trainers, trainees and management personnel would be highly motivated to carry out their duties.

Mr Duodu said the TVET Policy Framework being considered by cabinet included the provision of good foundation in English, Mathematics and Science to improve the quality of skills acquisition in TVET programmes. It would also provide a common standard of training in all programmes in public and private schools, identification of levels of programmes for linkages and offer a common method of assessment and certification as well as integration of entrepreneurship training and Information Communication and Technology (ICT) education. Mr Duodu said prospective students would enter technical and vocational schools as a choice and acquire quality skills that would make them employable or be self-employed.

Mr Duodu, who is an old boy of the school, noted the leading position of the school among technical institutes in the country and commended both past and current students of the school for not going on demonstrations and damaging school property. He urged the community to get actively involved in promoting the ideals and objectives of the founders of the school.

Osabarima Kena Ampaw 11, the Kukurantumihene, called on the students to take their studies seriously and to maintain the proud image laid by their predecessors.

Mr Stephen A. Godomey, the Principal of the school, said girls would be admitted to the school as from next academic year but said it would be limited to those within the locality until such time that facilities would be expanded for more intake.

He expressed concern that most students of the school were indifferent towards the government's policy that core subjects as English, Mathematics and Science be taught in all technical institutions to enable the graduates pursue higher academic programmes. Mr Godomey said a memorandum of understanding had been signed between the school and the Global Technology Academy in the U.S. to establish an ICT Centre in the school for computer refurbishment, hardware technician and software management.

Under the agreement 300 computers would be shipped to the school for refurbishment and sold to schools in the Eastern Region. He commended the Society for the Divine Word (SVD), a Catholic missionary congregation who founded the school, for constructing a 350 million-cedi bungalow for the Principal among other facilities. Mr Godomey appealed for more staff bungalows and a school bus to enhance teaching and learning. 24 April 05