Modern engineering workshop for Bolgatanga Technical University
The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, has inaugurated a modern engineering workshop for the Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) to help in the training of the students.
The facility has a set of five electrical and electronics equipment, six sets of Mechanical Engineering laboratory equipment, five sets of Civil Engineering laboratory equipment and five sets of Automotive Repair Engineering equipment.
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The rest are five sets of Welding Engineering laboratory equipment with a set of diesel-generating units of 200-kilowatt power.
Vision
Speaking briefly during the inauguration of the project, Mr Yakubu said the move formed part of the government’s vision to resource institutions providing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to be able to produce the right calibre of graduates for industry.
He said, “With this new facility, you will be in a better position to offer the required practical academic training to students as a way of preparing them adequately to be employed by industry to contribute to its growth.
“The era where students learnt TVET in abstract is over, as the government will continue to make significant investments in the TVET sector to make it robust to contribute to the growth of the economy.”
He reiterated the government’s commitment towards the transformation of TVET, adding that they would soon cut the sod for the construction of 32 modern training centres across the country to provide skills training to the youth.
Catch up
The minister said the world today was driven by science and technology, hence any country that did not invest heavily in it would be left behind, adding that, “It is, therefore, important for the government to support TVET to train the needed human resources to drive the country’s industrialisation agenda.
“In order for us to catch up with other advanced countries, we have to provide the needed logistical and financial support to transform TVET in order to reap its full benefits.”
Practical aspects
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, said the project, which was fully funded by the government, would enhance practical aspects of instructional training in the Engineering programmes.
He used the occasion to appeal to the government to expedite action on the university’s much-awaited lecture theatre complex since the existing lecture halls were already overflowing with students.
For his part, the Chairman of the university’s Governing Council, Prof. Francis A. Abantanga, expressed optimism that the new workshop would go a long way in providing graduates with the necessary skills and hands-on experience to enable them to fit well in industry.
