TVET retooling laudable idea
Investing in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is investing in national socio-economic development. This is because TVET holds the key to technological progress, rapid industrialisation, wealth creation and poverty reduction.
For this reason, we are happy that most of TVET institutions, including all the 10 technical universities, are receiving facelift and retooling, while 139 TVET schools have been added onto the free senior high school programme, in addition to the 47 already on it.
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The ongoing retooling includes face-lifting, modernisation, renovation and expansion of all TVET schools, with the installation of 21st century equipment.
We also note that since 2017, the government has put more emphasis on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and is committed to revamping the sector by injecting $1 billion infrastructure over the last four years.
Indeed, last month, the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) took a bold decision by granting amnesty to technical and vocational students in the various tertiary institutions who could not complete their respective courses to return to their former institutions to continue.
The programme covers students in the 10 technical universities, as well as other tertiary institutions offering diploma and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes which were affiliated to the then National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations (NABPTEX).
It covers students who enrolled from 2000/2001 to date but could not do the mandatory number of years to enable them to graduate and those who dropped out because of financial challenges or ill-health.
The Daily Graphic sees the move as a great innovation and forward looking and wishes to commend the board and management of the CTVET for questioning the status quo.
We believe this is a step in the right direction and an opportunity to rope in more qualified skilled workforce for industry.
The Daily Graphic expects such students not to hesitate but see it as a rare opportunity and a window of hope to pursue their ambition, which otherwise was fast slipping away from their grip.
It is a fact that technical and vocational education is the way to go if we do not want to import people with specialised know-how to man our industrialisation drive.
This is particularly more urgent as industrialisation is one of the pillars on which the government seeks to marshal the economic growth of the country, known as the One District, One Factory initiative.
Definitely, this move will require specialised skills to be operationalised, and such skills are what CTVET has seen in these students.
For sustainable development to take place, there is the need to train and make available to industry a highly skilled human resource to serve as key drivers of the economy, and so a decision such as what the CTVET has taken is appropriate.
The Daily Graphic expects that the various institutions to which these students will be returning will welcome them with open arms and make their stay, however short, memorable.
We know that considering the span of time, dating back to 20 years ago, most of those qualified to go back have advanced in age and may feel odd, but that is where the role of the management of the various institutions is critical in making the environment more conducive and welcoming.
Additionally, the retooling and face-lifting of TVET institutions will surely spur enthusiasm in students to take up TVET programmes.
That is why the Daily Graphic sees the amnesty programme and the retooling of TVET institutions as innovative ways to increase enrolment.
TVET is the way to go and we think that the tangent of the CTVET is in the right direction.