'Award Minor Construction Projects To Technical Schools'( D/G Wednesday, June 8, 2011)

The Chairman of the Association of Principals of Technical Institutes, Alhaji Alhassan Umar, has appealed to the government to consider awarding minor construction projects to technical institutes.

Such contracts, he explained, would provide an avenue for students of technical institutes to gain practical experience before completing their education.

According to him, such opportunity would also address the challenge of lack of training materials facing technical institutes, and ultimately lead to the generation of funds internally for the institutes.

“Such training will make the products of technical institutes more confident in setting up their own businesses after completion, thereby reducing youth unemployment,” he contended.

Alhaji Umar, who is also the Principal of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute, made the appeal at the launch of the maiden food bazaar and exhibition organised by the Catering Department of the institute.

The bazaar, which was on the theme: “Enhancing indigenous food for healthy life,”showcased varieties of food.
He said the concession would reduce the government’s high budgetary constraints and help the technical and vocational education and training sector to thrive.

“Eventually, the poor perception of society of technical and vocational education will give way for individuals to specialise in careers with practical skills and attitudes for the socio-economic development of the country,” he added.

He expressed appreciation to the government for granting the Bolgatanga Technical Institute its fair share of infrastructural development by constructing a six-unit classroom block, and rehabilitating a two-storey classroom block at the institute.

Alhaji Umar said construction of an administration block, which would include a library, a computer laboratory as a 24-unit three storey classroom block and a science laboratory, was also ongoing.

He, however, appealed to the Regional Coordinating Council to bring pressure to bear on the consultants and the contractor to speed up work on the project.

Through its own internally generated funds, he said, the school, with support from the PTA had started constructing a wall to ward off intruders, and called on the government to support the institute to renovate the boys’ dormitory which he described as a death trap.

He also appealed for support for the catering department of the institute since it lacked basic logistics such as refrigerators and microwave ovens.

Speaking on the theme, a retired educationist, Madam Florence Bobi commended the management of the institute for initiating the programme to highlight the need for people to consume indigenous foods and promote healthy lifestyles.

She noted with conmcern that due to education, cultural influences, foreign trade and technological advancement, people were moving away from their own self sustaining, local food systems to industrially derived food supplies with all its attendant health challenges.

“There are countless reasons why buying indigenous or local food is rewarding. This includes enjoying the taste of fresh food, improved health and nutrition, environmental stewardship, support for family farms and rural communities,” she said.

She said consuming indigenous food would also bring significant peace of mind as knowing where one’s food came from was very vital. Buying locally or directly from farmers can dramatically increase a farmer’s income and boost their capacity to take care of their families,” she emphasised.

Madam Bobi tasked the management of the institution to train the students to develop innovative skills which will enable them to become creative in the presentation of meals or dishes to attract consumers when they graduated.

The Deputy Regional Coordinating Director, Mr Gilbert Nuru Teg, who deputised for the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, commended the school for its efforts, stressing that Ghana needed more such skilled men and women at all levels for national development.