Organise regular fire training for teachers, students - GES advised

The Ghana Education Service has been advised to organise regular fire training programmes for teachers and students to improve their skills in fire control and rescue. 

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Global Institute of Mines and Safety (GIMS), Gabriel Larry Yennugu, who made the call, bemoaned the low level of fire education in institutions and organisations, particularly educational institutions, which he said was putting the lives of pupils and students in danger.

He observed that measures had not been put in place in most schools to respond to fire when there was an outbreak.

Mr Yennugu was speaking to journalists after a simulation exercise conducted at the BEBUSCO Senior High School at Bechem in the Tano South Municipality of the Ahafo Region last Monday.

Simulation exercise

The exercise was organised by GIMS in collaboration with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to simulate a realistic institutional fire scenario, while ensuring that the students were protected.

It was conducted to assess the preparedness of the students and response strategies in the event of a fire outbreak, while providing the students with hands-on training for effective fire management.

The exercise formed part of the GIMS's training offered to its students to enhance their fire safety awareness and knowledge, improve emergency response and evacuation procedures and practical experience in firefighting techniques.

The beneficiaries were trained on how to rescue fire victims trapped in high-rise buildings among other safety activities.

Mr Yennugu urged the government to introduce fire safety as a curriculum to be studied in schools and provide them with the necessary firefighting equipment to control fire in schools.

TVET education

He called on the government to sustain its interest and commitment in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to tackle youth unemployment.

Mr Yennugu said TVET education had the potential to resolve the country's unemployment situation since it provided employable skills. He explained that his outfit's focus was to provide employable skills to young people to reduce graduate unemployment.

He said the training being offered by GIMS was in line with the government's TVET education policy in which the youth were being equipped with skills needed in mines and construction industries.

Mr Yennugu, therefore, appealed to the government to support the institute with training equipment to train more youth to reduce unemployment. He thanked the Ghana Skill Development Fund (GSDF) for supporting GIMS to train students.

Mr Yennugu explained that what the institute was offering was based on one’s competence and not educational background.

He said he was collaborating with the GNFS, the Ghana National Ambulance Service (GNAS) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to provide technical training for the trainees.

Prank calls

The Tano South Municipal Fire Commander, DOIII Clifford Teiko Ashie, said the simulation was conducted in the school to sensitise the students and the public on how to fight fire at its initial stage.

He said the exercise was also to expose them to measures they could adopt during a fire incident to protect lives and property. He urged the public irrespective of their professional background to enroll in the institute to acquire basic fire safety tips.

He expressed concern about the high number of prank calls, explaining that the incident remained their main challenge in the area. He appealed to the public to support the command with firefighting equipment, since the government alone could not provide all their needs.

Writer's email: biiya.ali@graphic.com.gh