75 students undergo apprenticeship training in building technology

Seventy-five students from the Biriwa Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Institute at Biriwa in the Central Region have undergone a three-month mentorship and skills development clinic with the Medium Dwelling Company Limited, a real estate development firm based in Accra.

The clinic was meant to scale up their knowledge in building technology.

It was also intended to encourage the students to take up careers in draughtsmanship and real estate.

The students spent time working in apprenticeship positions in the company and held several interactive sessions with the staff.

Expand support

The Managing Director of Medium Dwelling Company Limited, Mr Josiah Arko-Korsah, who is also the developer of the Beach Drive Estates and Hotel at the Tuba Junction in the Ga South Municipality in Accra, said he had been offering students from the Biriwa Vocational Institute, Cape Coast Technical University and the University of Science and Technology some opportunities in field trip training since 1992.

“This has been my contribution to shoring up the government’s vision to advance vocational and technical education which has the potential to leapfrog the country’s development when harnessed properly,” he said.

He appealed to the government to expand grant support given to the private sector, particularly trade associations and training institutions under the Skills Development Fund.

Mr Arko-Korsah urged the students to take advantage of the opportunity they have to study hard and not just see it as an excursion.

“You have to keep abreast of the changing trends in the technical processes and methods used in constructing buildings and take advantage of the Internet to look for information.

We are together building the next generation of construction experts who will move the industry forward,” he added.

Review

The Head of Building Technology at the Biriwa Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Institute, Mr Joseph Graham, said the current free senior high school dispensation did not cover schools that undertook vocational and technical education and called for a review to have them roped in.

In addition, he appealed to the government, benevolent organisations and philanthropists to assist the school with a bus so that students can move out of the school for practical lessons.

“It is hoped also that something is done about the school fees since students are finding it difficult to pay and thus leading to reduced enrolment,” he said.