Mr Umar Alhassan, Principal of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute, on Tuesday, called on stakeholders of the education sector to consider awarding minor constructional works to technical institutions.
This, he said, would enable students to have sufficient practical training that would meet the standards of society.
He said this at a grand maiden food bazaar, organized by the catering department of the institute, on the theme, “Enhancing indigenous food for healthy life”.
Mr Alhassan said when the institutes are provided with such jobs, it would make graduates of technical schools more confident in setting up their own businesses after completion, thereby reducing youth unemployment and rural urban migration.
He said the ever increasing budgetary constrains of government could be reduced if such concessions were given to the institutes to allow the sector to strive.
“That would enhance modules based on a system of lifelong learning and quality of working life, useful to society”, he said.
The food bazaar, which is aimed at promoting indigenous foods and good health, was also intended to raise funds to support the Home Economics department of the institute.
Mr Alhassan said the Home Economics Department has not seen any renovation since the establishment of the institute, and that such a move would help it conform to modern trends of cooking.
He called on the Municipal assembly and benevolent organizations to come to the aid of the institute with modern industrial equipments, such as stoves, microwaves, cooking utensils, fridges and computers, saying that, without those things, the Technical and vocational Educational Training (TVET) remained challenged.
He commended government for the construction of a 6 unit classroom block and the rehabilitation of a two storey classroom block for the institute.
Mrs Florence Bobi, a retired educationist and guest speaker for the occasion, advised institutions, turning out graduates to serve the manpower needs of the country, by training and developing their skills to enable them to be creative.
She urged caterers to use addictives and spices in moderation and conserve nutrients in the foods during preparation and service.
Mrs Lucy Awuni, Deputy Regional Minister, Upper East, said the hospitality industry could not be left behind as the country strived to become a middle income country and called on them to be awake and take advantage of the oil discovery and the influx of investors into the country.
She was full of praise for the initiative of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute in packaging indigenous foods to make it more attractive and healthy for Ghanaians and foreigners.
She urged parents and guardians to collaborate with the teachers by sacrificing their meagre resources to bring up the youth, who are pursuing catering courses because government sees the TVET as crucial for the youth, to enhance the country’s chances of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
She advised students to refrain from unrests that result in destruction of school property and personal effects of tutors, saying, it did not only affect the academic calendar but the smooth running of the administration.