The Agyeiwaa Ba Foundation in collaboration with the Old Students of ABTECH (OSA) under the auspices of the Principal of the Abetifi Technical Institute (ABTECH), has organized a one-day career guidance for students at the Abetifi Technical Institute.
The event, held on Saturday, March 25, was to give a clear understanding of which direction students must go right after completing their second cycle education.
Speaking in an interview with Andy Frimpong Manso, the Acting President of the Old Students of ABTECH (OSA), Haruna Yakubu added that, the sense of direction after school was a very necessary workshop for the students.
He indicated that the OSA will continue to engage with the students to provide them with other additional support even after completing.
“Today’s program is concerned with Abetifi Technical Institute Old Students Association and the Agyeiwaa Ba Foundation. It’s a collaborative effort to motivate the students to give them a sense of direction as to what to do after school. We want them to know that after technical school, you have a lot of opportunities before you that can propel you to your next stage in life”,
He further said the Old Students and the current crop of students will have strong coordination to ensure there’s much connectivity to assist the school in whichever way they can.
“We want to have connectivity with the current crop of students, in that way, we can also do what is expected of us as and when it’s necessary. We will also be available to give them our assistance and even fix them in our businesses”, he added.
According to Mr Haruna, the OSA is making plans to build a new ultra-modern entrance for the school, a CCTV camera installation will be installed to provide additional security for the school.
“We have a lot of plans for the school. We’ve decided to discuss with the Principal their issues. Away from that, we also have our plans. We have most ABTECH students abroad, who are ready to assist the school. We’re going to build an ultra-modern entrance and the installation of CCTV cameras to provide security”,
The President advised the students to ensure that they continue to make good use of their books and be determined to achieve higher heights.
The Guest speaker for the program, Ing. Bismark Frimpong, a Technical Advisor to Toyota Ghana and a former old student of ABTECH in 2004, called for such programs to be conducted more often to motivate students in second-cycle schools to give them a vivid understanding of what careers they must go into.
Although, according to him, the old students did not have the opportunities the current crop of students are enjoying today but they were able to achieve remarkable feet for themselves.
Mr Frimpong used the opportunity and urged the students to focus and shouldn’t relent on their studies as far as TVET education is concerned.
“It’s not easy to be enrolled into technical education, although, there’s been some reformation and changes, yet, there must be additional input so that after one completes technical school, they will not be left out or it wouldn’t see technical students as not knowledgeable enough but rather when we’re all given the equal attention support in our second cycle schools they can be able to do well”, he stated.
He commended the Head Principal of the school for instituting a distinctive leadership role in the lives of the students.
“They have a good leader. The Principal is well committed and the teachers support all that he does, and that’s a good sign that, the students have good leaders that have them in mind and hearts”,
The Principal, Samuel Mcleoo Atua – Baodi on his part, called on the Central government and the general public to provide them with additional facilities to aid the school.
He said, since his appointment in 2019, he has not seen any predominantly Old Students but this time, the OSA has been accepted by all to engage with the students and to as see the need to join the association.
According to him, the school hasn’t reached the level he wants it to be. He said the school has gained some improvements even though, there are still major challenges confronting the school.
“I cannot point out what we’re looking for. Everything is a priority in this school. We need a lot of things. The government and the TVET projects, there were workshops but there was nothing in it everything is spoilt but with the new TVET programs, seven departments are being retooled with new machines. We have 18 containers standing by, with the visions of the President to project TVET programs, I believe there’s quite some improvement”,
He advised the students not to relent but rather, pursue their career goals and do better for themselves and contribute their quota to the development of the country.
“They shouldn’t relent. The ABTECH name has gone very far. Some are serious, some are not, but I’m still talking to them”,
The founder of the Agyeiwaa Ba Agyei foundation, Mr Atta – Agyei Augustine, Materials coordination and control manager, Emery/Rock City constructions and the General Secretary of the OSA, urged the students to have a certain directive no matter what results in they may get.
He said, focus and determination is the only motivation that can drive their dreams and goals into reality.
The Abetifi Technical Institute presently has about 1,640 students offering different courses in the TVET sector of the Ghanaian educational system.
