The Ghana skills development initiative (GSDI III) and the college of Technology Education (CoLTEK) of the University of Education, winneba(UEW) , situated on the Kumasi campus officially launched their cooperation on April 4th, 2019 in a festive ceremony shich included the presentation and signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and the establishment of a joint working group. The working group will focus on the development of teaching materials and a manual for in-service competence based training (CBT) facilitation training.
ColTEK is currently the only institution training TVET teachers at the University level.
TVET teachers are being trained in both theoretical and practical aspect of occupation and are qualified after graduation to train TVET student at the second cycle level (I.e technical institutes).
GSDI III, in turn, is providing capacity developement for facilitators (teachers) and management staff of TVET training providers.
In other to explore options on how to institutionally anchor this support to TVET teachers in the Ghanaian system and, thus, to ensure alignment and sustainability, GSDI and CoLTEK establish contact and deepened cooperation through the signing of the MoU.
GSDI III aims at supporting *TVET* Teacher Training focused on school management and competency – based training *CBT*.
The cooperation will agreement Will assign CoLTEK to implement state of the art Teacher training all over Ghana.
Various partners and stakeholders affiliated with TVET sector participated in the event by addressing the more than 50 dignitaries, guest and participants .
During his welcome Adrea’s the chair of the meeting, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful -Broni , vice chancellor of UEW, stated his pride of hosting the important events which marks the official beginning of the cooperation with GSDI.
The principal of CoLTEK , prof. Fredrick kweku sarfo, then highlighted the role of CoLTEK in the future development of schooling and teaching standards in the TVET sector. Dr. Fred K Asamoah, executive director of the Council for Technical and Vocational Educational Training *(COTVET)* pointed out the importance the *TVET* takes on the agenda of the government of Ghana.
He quoted the state of the nations address given by H.E. the president of the Republic of Ghana, in which he announced the establishment me of 10 state-of-the-art *TVET* centres in 2019.
Mr. Daniel *Lauchenauer*, Deputy head of cooperation, Embassy of the Switzerland in ghana. In other to reach the highest possible level of skills, employability and competitiveness in ghana, the training of teachers in the key, he said.
He also underlined the importance that, TVET has to meet the demand of the private sector and therefore encourages cooperation between private sector and training providers.
After representatives of GSDI III presented their contribution to skills development in ghana in 6 Ghanaian regions and with more than 100 training providers and 20 different trade associations (representing 8 trades), the MoU between GSDI III and CoLTEK was officially introduced and signed.
As defined in the MoU, GSDI and CoLTEK intend to jointly carry out the following activities for capacity development at training providers (TP)
1. Adapt and develop a manual for in-service CBT – delivery training for facilitators,
2. Training masters trainers for in-service CBT- delivery training for facilitators ,
3.Update in-service school management training manual,
4. Train masters trainers for in-service school management training.
At the end, the newly established working group between GSDI III and CoLTEK had their working session while invited guests and dignitaries tourned the CoLTEK facilities including the CBT center. Source Kamal Ahmed Bance
