First Vulcanizing Training Institute launched in Ghana
23rd July 2021
A Vulcanizing Traning Institute has been launched in Accra to coach Ghanaian youth in the tyre industry.
The institution, Bukorba Vulcanizing Training Institute (BVTI) is owned by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bartok 10 Tyre Safety Service, Chief Basiru Karim Bukorba.
It is affiliated with the National Vocational Training Institute (N.V.T.I) and Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) formally called COTVET.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Basiru Karim disclosed that in all, he has eight (8) vulcanizing garages in the Accra metropolis, one in Tema, and one in Ashanti Region where participants will take their practical training.
This training program, he said is carefully crafted for one year towards National Vocational Training Institute (N.V.T.I) Proficiency one and two certificates.
He added that each training phase would be done with both theoretical and practical training on Tyre Servicing, Braking System Servicing, Suspension System Maintenance, and Car Diagnosis Principles with intensive workshop demonstrations.
According to him the training of 80% practical and 20% theory would equip trainees with the requisite knowledge adequately for the job market.
He revealed that the Training Institute has been providing training for reputable companies and individuals in Ghana for the past five (5) years and have over the past ten (10) years trained about 800 Vulcanizers who are currently employed in Tyre Service Centers across the country.
Addressing challenges facing the TVET service in Ghana, the advisor to the institute Mr. Norbert Ayamga said the perceptions that those who acquire skills training are academically unsound, has no basis in their claims.
"It is not true that those who pursue their education or profession or trade-in TVET are not smart or intelligent," he averred.
He said TVET trainees or persons use all their psychomotor skills and knowledge to develop themselves better and come out with more innovative in their chosen career.
He said the TVET industry is not getting the right skills of persons who are trained by the training providers adding that skills needed in the country are not tailored by the training providers.
"TVET funding is a challenge and many people cannot afford to go through the training to acquire the needed skills," he noted.
He revealed that growing unemployment is due to a mismatch between demand and supply of skills and called on the government to subside TVET. He said the government should fund people who are willing to train in technical education.
He called on philanthropists and NGOs to also help the youth to train in TVET. He also urged parents to encourage their children to participate in TVET training to reduce unemployment and social vises.
On his part, a representative from N.V.T.I, Mr. Goerge Oduro stated that another important characteristic of TVET is its delivery at different levels of sophistication.
"This means that TVET can respond, not only to the needs of different types of industries but also to the different training needs of learners from different socio-economic and academic backgrounds and prepare them for gainful employment and sustainable livelihoods," he noted.
According to him, the skilled workforce is a basic requirements for driving the engine of industrial and economic growth, and NVTI holds the key to building this type of technical and entrepreneurial workforce.