In an attempt to enhance acquisition of skills in technical educational institutions in Ghana, the Government of China, through RZPT Polytechnic, has signed a multilateral agreement with the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) for the establishment of RZPT campus and Luban Workshop at the University.
Supported by the Chinese Ministry of Education, organised by China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), Future of Africa: China-Africa Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Cooperation Programme aims at supporting African youths to improve technical and vocational skills, promoting socio-economic development in Africa, as well as enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between Africa and China.
Costing US$100million, the project consists of the construction of engineering workshops in ten technical institutes, five engineering workshops in five technical universities and one examination centre at the Akenten Appiah Menka University of Skills and Entrepreneurial Development (AAM-USTED), Kwadaso, Ashanti.
The programme will run from five to ten years, depending on needs and outcomes. There are three sub-projects in total. This forms part of the Future of Africa: China-Africa TVET Corporation programme initiative which involves an international collaboration between RZPT Polytechnic and Kumasi Technical University, supported by China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE).
It forms the sub-project under the theme: ‘Applied Talents Joint Teaching Programme’, where 15 students from Kumasi Technical University have been chosen to study at the RZPT Polytechnic for two years.
At a high level virtual and non-virtual meeting which was monitored by authorities in China via video conferencing at the KsTU, a multilateral agreement between Mr. Xiao Shengtao, a representative of AVIC International Holding Corporation, Prof. Ma Fangxing of RZPT Polytechnic, and Ing. Prof. Nana Osei Wusu-Achaw, Vice Chancellor of KsTU, was signed and pleasantries were exchanged.
Addressing the occasion, the Vice Chancellor of KsTU, Ing. Prof. Nana Osei Wusu-Achaw, hailed the agreement, expressing optimism that the agreement will pave the way for the establishment of RZPT KsTU campus and Luban Workshop in the university to extend TVET education in many more disciplines so as to offer opportunities to more Ghanaian students to attain quality TVET education.
On the ascendency of TVET education in the Ghanaian educational spectrum, Prof. Osei Wusu-Achaw said technical and vocational educational training plays a key role in the development of every nation. In Ghana, government has given meaning to this observation by establishing several TVET institutions including the technical universities to provide training in technical and vocational education at the highest level.
He told the gathering that existing and proposed collaborations between KsTU and RZPT Polytechnic at the instance of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Commission for Technical and Vocational Education, and AVIC, would be to strengthen their efforts at TVET education in KsTU and by extension, Ghana.
On her part, the Deputy Director-General of CTVET, Dr. Tina Abrefa-Gyan, mentioned that as part of efforts to enhance TVET in Ghana, the Government of Ghana has resolved to revamp TVET and to make it the bedrock of the industralisation agenda such one-district one-factory (1D1F) programme.
In spite of the above development, Dr. Abrefa-Gyan stated that the government of the day has made massive investment in the Technical and Vocational Education space with over US$1billion invested since 2017.
This, she said, forms part of the Future of Africa: China-Africa TVET Corporation programme initiative which involves an international collaboration between RZPT Polytechnic and Kumasi Technical University, supported by China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE).
