The Director General of the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), Dr Fred Kyei Asamoah, has debunked the notion that the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will soon take away the jobs of TVET graduates.
He explained that rather, the combination of AI and the skills of the artisans in the industry could bring about a new job creation, massive improvement in the development of every economy since the skills of the artisan in the creation and repair of certain equipment and products cannot be underestimated in every economy.
Dr Kyei Asamoah announced this on Friday at the trade profile sensitization workshop held in Accra.
The sensitization workshop organized by the CTVET in partnership with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) was aimed at sensitizing the nation and all stakeholders in the TVET space on the TVET Trade Profile.
In attendance were Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ghana TVET Service (GTVET) Guidance and Counselling Coordinators from the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, Central and Western Regions.
Also present were Development Partners like German Development Agency (GIZ), Group Insight, AHK and Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) Ghana.
“Yes artificial intelligence can do many things but it cannot do what our artisans need to do. For instance, it cannot do the repairs and maintenance. Artificial intelligence can do so many things but people need skills to do so many other things”. Dr Kyei Asamoah said.
Again he posited that “with internet and other technological advancement, skills training is still needed to augment the new development in the information and technology world to create more jobs and the only way we can do that is to have skills”.
Dr Kyei Asamoah, praised the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his support towards the revamping of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and TVET to boost the transformation of the nation’s economy.
The Director General urged all stakeholders in the nation’s education sector to support the effort being made to promote TVET education since it played a critical role towards the transformation of the nation’s economy since grammar education alone could not do so.
Dr Kyei Asamoah indicated that a change of mindset was required by all since society needed to support the growth and acceptance of TVET as the magic wand to change the fortunes of this nation.
He tasked guidance and counselling coordinators to go to Basic Schools to counsel pupils on prospects in the selection of TVET courses.
This, according to him would help them select courses they had an interest in or had a passion for so they could study it with much energy and excitement.
He tasked Guidance and Counsellors Coordinators in Schools to redouble their effort at changing the narrative with students and gave the assurance that things would soon change if all stakeholders played their roles to ensure that TVET becomes the mainstay of the nation’s economy.
The Director General announced that CTVET is currently piloting Guidance and Counselling in 100 district across the country for the next two years after which it would be reviewed before being rolled out to all schools.
The Head of Guidance and Career Counselling, Ghana TVETS, Madam Gifty Mensah, stated that career guidance was very critical in the training of students since it helped them to know the prospects available to him/her after their courses of study.
Again, she said, there was a need for Junior High School students to be assisted with career guidance before they select their courses and write the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The occasion was used to sensitize the Guidance and Counselling Coordinators and others the Trade Profiles of nine trade areas namely; Solar Power Technicians, Electrician, Electronics Technicians, Refrigeration and Air Condition Technician, Automotive Electrician, Automotive Mechanic, Architectural and Engineering Technicians, Information and Communication Technology ICT support and Welder and metal fabricators.
The trade profiles highlighted trade descriptions/work types, skills to be acquired, specialization in that trade and qualifications needed for such trade as well as where they could progress to going forward with that trade.
By Felix Baidoo
