Sovie (VR), Dec. 20, GNA - Mr Clement K. Osei Tutu, Deputy Director, Programmes and Operations of National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) on Friday appealed to Government to ensure vocational training institutes benefited from Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) projects. He said the trainees should be provided feeding grants to demonstrate its real commitment to vocational and technical education in the country. Mr Osei Tutu made the appeal when inaugurating a 13-member Management Committee for Catholic Youth Organisation (CYO) Vocational Training Centre at Sovie near Kpandu. He emphasised the importance of vocational and technical education to the country's industrialisation development and urged Government to refrain from paying lip-service to vocational and technical education and show more commitment to give hope to the youth interested in acquiring vocational skills.

Mr Osei Tutu commended management of CYO-Sovie for its innovations and initiatives with the establishment of a garment production unit and introduction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), describing it as one of the best training centres in the country. He asked members of the committee to live up to expectation and make vocational and technical education exciting to the youth especially those within its catchment area. Mr Osei Tutu urged them to adopt an open door policy to give room for suggestions to improve standards of teaching and learning at the Centre.

Bishop Francis Lodonu, Bishop of Ho Diocese of Catholic Church said its intention to offer skills training to the youth in the country was paramount and appealed to Government for assistance to reduce unemployment in the country. He urged Government to invest more in vocational and technical education to change people's perception about the sector "that it is for people who are not intelligent." Monsignor Anthony Kornu, Vicar General of the Diocese and Chairman of the Committee said though the challenge was demanding, it would endeavour to make the Centre the desired place for many. Sister Cecilia Afari, Manageress of the Centre said low enrolment, inadequate support from parents, inadequate motivation for staff and lack of an administration block were some of the challenges facing the Centre. 20 Dec. 08