The government has been asked to subsidise the cost of training for youths who have opted for self-employable vocational training in private institutions.
It has also been urged to support such youth with start-up capitals, tools and equipment.
The Head of the Textile and Fashion Department of the University of Education Winneba (UEW), Dr Osuanyi Kweku Essel, said these at the 26th open-day and graduation ceremony of Grace Hill School of Technology (GHIST) at Ankaful, in the Central Region.
The ceremony was on the theme “increasing employability and livelihood through skill development” at the weekend.
According to DrEssel, this could be done through the Council for Technical and Vocational Educational Training (COTVET), by accrediting and registering private vocational training centers with good standing in the various regions in the country.
He said, anecdotal evidences suggest that many youths across the country who have successfully gone through self-employable vocational training but have financial challenges in starting their businesses
He indicated this was a hinderance tothem in realising their dreams in the chosen careers, hence the need for government intervention.
Dr Essel said, the financial support given to government-assisted colleges of education, nursing and midwifery training institutions and leaving out those in vocational- based training institutions had contributed to deepening the negative perceptions of vocational education as a field for non-performing learners.
He said, relevant education in the 21stcentury, was a kind of education that gave learners creative and practical entrepreneurial skills needed to succeed in the society, and the confident urge to practice those acquired skills.
To the graduates, he asked them to employ proper branding strategy by falling on the services of professional graphic designers to brand their places of work and packages to be attractive for clients.
He said, cleanliness should be their hallmark and respect their clients while learning to say sorry even if they are right.
He said, in trying to increase employability and livelihood through skill training, the government, the private training institutions, the graduands and the general public have their respective roles to play.
The Principal of the school, Professor Jophus Anamuah – Mensah, said, skill development produces the human capital that is required for development.
According to him, it was unfortunate that the educational system produces people who were unskilled, and unemployable.
He asked them to face challenges and not to resign or despair, but should persevere adding that “failure is not the opposite of success, it is a part of success.”
FROM DANIEL AMOO, ANKAFUL
