Winneba(CR), Feb. 5, GNA - Professor Steve Sobotie, Principal of Kumasi Campus of University of Education, on Thursday called for the establishment of resource centres to enhance research into Technical and Vocational Education in the country. He noted that research into technical and vocational education would bring courses offered by these institutions in line with modern international standards.

Prof. Sobotie made the call at the opening session of a two-day Second National Conference of Home Economics Research Association of Ghana (HERAG) at the University of Education Winneba (UEW). It is being attended by 52 participants made up of 30 Ghanaians drawn from UEW, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast and Accra Polytechnics and 22 from tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It is under the theme "Vocational Technical Education: A Way to Wealth Creation", and would discuss problems facing technical and vocational education and the need for government and policy makers to pay serious attention to such institutions.

Prof. Sobotie urged government and policy makers to stop paying lip-services to Technical and Vocational Education and pay more attention to them for accelerated national development. He said parents owed it a duty to ensure that their children enrolled in technical and vocational institutions and offer them the needed support and encouragement. Prof. Richard Awuah, Principal of Mampong Campus of UEW, said Ghana's educational system must be relevant to the youth and called on technical and vocational institutions to equip their students with skills ready for the job market. Prof. Mawutor Avoke, Pro Vice-Chancellor of UEW, urged authorities of vocational and technical institutions to design academic programmes that were relevant to students when they enter into society. He asked researchers and teachers to produce analytical students to help solve problems in society. The first international HERAG journal was launched at the conference.