The Chairman of the Ghana Electronics Servicing Technicians Association (GESTA), Mr Collins Boateng, has called on parents and guardians to encourage young people to pursue vocational and technical education as a viable pathway to employment and entrepreneurship.
He said vocational training should be viewed as an opportunity for young people to acquire practical skills, establish businesses and create jobs, rather than as an alternative reserved for students who do not perform well in traditional academic education.
Mr Boateng, speaking to the Ghana News Agency, urged parents to pay attention to the interests, talents and abilities of their children and guide them towards careers that matched their strengths.
He encouraged parents whose children had an interest in learning trades to connect them with institutions such as the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) for apprenticeship opportunities, business development support and other forms of assistance.
“Parents must not discourage children who have a passion for learning a trade,” he said.
“Instead, they should support them and link them to institutions such as the Ghana Enterprises Agency, where they can receive training and assistance to establish their own businesses,” he added.
According to Mr Boateng, equipping young people with employable skills could help reduce their dependence on limited white-collar job opportunities and enable them to create livelihoods for themselves.
He cautioned parents against waiting until their children performed poorly in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) before considering vocational and technical education for them.
“Vocational and technical education should not be seen as a last resort. It is a viable career path that equips young people with practical skills and prepares them for productive employment,” he said.
Certification
The GESTA Chairman also urged apprentices and artisans to complement their practical experience with formal certification from the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI).
He said recognised vocational qualifications could strengthen the credibility of artisans and improve their competitiveness in the labour market.
According to him, certification could also enhance artisans’ prospects of securing employment, attracting customers and expanding their businesses.
Mr Boateng stressed the need for stronger collaboration among parents, vocational training institutions and the Ghana Enterprises Agency to provide young people with the skills and support required to become economically productive.
He said such collaboration would not only improve employment prospects for the youth but also promote entrepreneurship and contribute to efforts to address unemployment in the country.
He therefore urged parents to provide the necessary encouragement and guidance to help their children develop their talents through technical and vocational training.
