The West Africa Regional Representative of City and Guilds International, Mr Kingsley Koranteng Asiedu, has called for the establishment of a framework that will match technical school qualification with senior high school qualification for academic progression and job placements. Mr Asiedu expressed concern about what he said was the negative perception about technical education and the little attention given to it, adding that "people think that the technical/vocational person is less intelligent". That kind of attitude, he said, had transcended through to the governments support to technical education. "Without due recognition of technical education this country cannot be industrialised. We• need skilled personnel to take this country through the path on industrialisation," he said, adding that the "academics are propounders of theories while the implementers are the technical/vocational people." Mr Asiedu said the negative perception about technical education had affected the purchase of local goods as most people bought foreign goods because of their perceived quality. He said local people engaged in the production of goods and" services needed to be given the right skills to produce quality local goods to enhance their sales and purchases. On City and Guilds, he said, until 1984 City and Guilds was the only technical/vocational awarding examination body in Ghana, and that between 1984 and 1985 the examination body assisted• the Technical Education Division of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to localise the awards. Mr Asiedu said City and Guilds 'awards had international recognition and enabled holders to work in any part of the world. He announced that 1,500 students sat for the City and Guilds examination within the last two years, while there were 45 training centres scattered across the country. He said the body undertook visits to schools to sensitise students on .its programmes, adding that a technical/vocational week had been set aside in September each year to educate the public on its activities. During the week he said a public forum was held, while a float was organised through the principal streets and there were also radio and television discussions. "This year we are thinking of having a debate on technical education." he said. Source: Daily Graphic