Brother Seregeous Dery, the FIC Provincial Superior, has called on the government to intervene to ensure the swift completion of all relatively abandoned projects at the St. Basilide’s Technical Institute in Kaleo in the Nadowli-Kaleo District.
He acknowledged the government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country.
Bro. Dery made the call at Kaleo during the launch of the school’s Golden Jubilee on the theme: “Harnessing Technical/Vocational Skills for the Holistic Development of the Ghanaian Child”.
The school was started in 1973 by the catholic missionaries (FIC Brothers) to provide technical and vocational education and training to the people in the region and beyond in an attempt to develop the needed human resources for the technical and vocational sector.
It has since produced resourceful personalities for both the public and private sectors across the country.
“I once again call on the government to come to the aid of this great institution by completing the uncompleted projects started in the school some eight (8) years ago.
The intervention, if provided, would ease the acute accommodation problems of the school”, he said.
He also indicated the dire need for modern training equipment for the school to help improve skills training for the students in all the six departments.
Mr Cyril Bayaa, the representative of the old students at the launch, revealed that plans are far advanced for the Old Students of the Institute to construct a 3-unit classroom block and an office space for their alma mater.
This was to help ameliorate the myriad of challenges inhibiting the effective functioning of the school.
He explained that the development of the school was dear to the heart of the old students hence their decision to pull together their little resources to execute the projects.
Mr Bayaa condemned the recent demonstration by the students of the school which led to the destruction of properties of the school and advised them to always resort to the appropriate means of getting their grievances addressed rather than resorting to violence.
He also advised the female students to take TVET very seriously in order to make a difference in that sector.
Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, eulogized the St. Basilide’s Technical Institute as establishing itself as a household name in the education sector” due to its impact on the lives of the students that passed through it and its contribution to the development of the nation.
He said: “… we must pay glowing tribute to its founding fathers for sacrificing to establish the school.”
“It is a fact that as the economic, cultural, and technological changes unfold, the active youth of the country and, for that matter, Upper West region, need to develop knowledge, attitudes, and skills”, Dr. Salih observed.
He, therefore, stressed the important role of TVET in the economic growth of the country and indicated that the President Akufo-Addo-led government was committed to developing TVET in the country to help achieve the needed development.
Madam Nancy M. Dorst, the Filed Manager of the Wee-North, a Non-governmental organisation, thanked the school for partnering with the organization to provide free technical training for girls in the Upper West Region.
Source: Info Radio