The Sovie Catholic Youth Organization (C.Y.O) Technical Vocational Institute in the Kpando Municipality of the Volta Region has received a state-of-the-art solar training workshop.

The provision of the facility aims to equip students with essential skills in renewable energy technology.

The Jacob-Christian-Adam Foundation, in collaboration with the State Government of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Steyler Mission, all from Germany, donated the facility to the school during its 40th anniversary celebration.

Martin Wilde, who represented the Jacob-Christian-Adam Foundation, expressed his organisation's commitment to fostering education and environmental consciousness.

He emphasised the importance of empowering the youth with practical skills that align with emerging industries, such as renewable energy.

“We hope that the electrical students would get some additional training in solar so that besides their qualification as electricians, they also can master how to install solar systems,” he stated.

Bishop of the Ho Catholic Diocese, Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu applauded the initiative by the donors and emphasised the need for the school and other stakeholders to reach out to the youths in the Ho Diocese and educate them on the benefits of technical and vocational education.

Bishop Fianu admonished the school to make sure that the courses that are offered in the school meet the requirements of the contemporary labour market.

“We should not simply pass out students who are of no relevance to the labour market today; we would only be training people who add to the huge number of unemployed youths in this country. This would be a catalyst for social unrest and instability,” he emphasised.

The Director General of Ghana Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Mrs. Mawusi Nudekor Awity stated that TVET was formally perceived as a programme for pupils who are from low-income homes or are less intelligent and in so doing, brought about a huge number of unemployed graduates in the country.

She further stated that currently the enrolment ratio of students to TVET schools is very encouraging and pupils who study TVET can now have the opportunity to continue their studies at any tertiary institution of their choice.

“We are encouraging females to also go into male-dominated fields and in so doing the narrative would change,” said Mrs. Awity.

An instructor at the solar workshop, Divine Kofitse called on all artisans in the diocese to make good use of the opportunity, to acquire skills in the solar energy installation process.