Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has urged Ghanaians to support government in transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country.

According to him, the free TVET education promise by President Akufo-Addo has gained grounds, considering the thousands of students who have been enrolling in various institutions across the country.

Speaking at the inauguration and handing over ceremony of the Overall Upgrading and Modernisation of Vocational Education System Project in Accra, Dr Bawumia said the NPP government is poised to enhance TVET education and make it more attractive.

“I wish to charge you all to embrace the President’s agenda of transforming the TVET landscape to serve as a catalyst for job creation and entrepreneurial development of the citizenry.

“It is worthy to mention that the President of the Republic Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo has fulfilled his promise of free TVET for all. This free TVET for all has resulted in a record-breaking enrollment of 45,000 students in various programmes in TVET institutions across the country,” he said.

In addition to that, “government has implemented the Applied Technology Institution concept with the establishment of the East Legon Applied Technology Institute to provide rigorous academic core and industry-led programmes to support the socio-economic transformation of the country.”

Dr Bawumia reiterated that government’s commitment to TVET is unmatched, saying TVET education would soon be the toast of the youth.

More TVET facilities would be established in all regions, he added.

“Government shall extend the provision of more infrastructure to the other institutes. I am aware that management of the Ghana TVET Service in collaboration with the Sector Ministry is planning to construct three TVET incubation centres and 10 state-of-the-art TVET institution across the country, which will serve as the final polishing phase for TVET graduate transition into the job market.

“This will be the first ever TVET incubation center in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

The Director-General of Ghana TVET Services, Mawusi Nudekor Awity, said plans are underway to provide a supporting policy to help graduates establish themselves after graduation.

“The Service is in the process of implementing startups for TVET graduate programmes. This will be done in close collaboration with donor agencies, international NGOs and other government initiatives to fashion out a graduate support policy aimed at assisting graduates to start their own businesses.”

Although some beneficiaries are happy about the government’s efforts, the Vice Principal of the Applied Technology Institute, Rev Lambert Batogbee, charged government to provide materials to enhance practical works.

“Without training materials, you can’t do anything. I cannot start this equipment without consumables. When I talk about consumables, I need hydraulic engine oil.”

Meanwhile, about 63 vehicles have also been donated to facilitate learning and administrative work.