A total of 359 artisans have graduated from the Wa Technical Institute after successfully completing competency-based training programmes leading to the award of National Skills Qualifications in various technical and vocational trades at the institution’s maiden graduation ceremony.
The ceremony, held at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Wa Technical Institute, was under the theme “Building Competent Hands, Transforming Lives,” with the complementary motto, “Your Skill is Our Pride, the Future is Our Reward.”
The graduates comprised apprentices and master craftsmen and women who successfully completed National Certificate I (NC I) and National Proficiency I (NP I) programmes in five technical and vocational disciplines.
Under the National Certificate I programme, 66 graduates completed Electrical Technology Engineering, while 34 graduated in Furniture Making.
At the National Proficiency I level, 86 graduates completed Fashion Design, 87 graduated in Automobile Engineering, while 86 completed Welding and Fabrication.
Addressing the gathering on behalf of the Principal of the Wa Technical Institute, Saaka Adams, the Vice Principal for Administration and General Duties, Akateng Papinian Christian, described the graduation as a significant milestone for both the institution and the graduates.
He noted that many of the graduates were drawn from the non-formal sector, particularly young people who had acquired practical skills through apprenticeship under master craftsmen in their communities.
According to him, the institute’s competency-based training approach had provided apprentices with an opportunity to obtain formal recognition for skills acquired outside the conventional education system.
“We are not just graduating students but celebrating resilience and excellence,” he said, emphasising that practical skills, talent and determination could provide pathways to further education and professional development.
He said the graduates had acquired skills in electrical technology, fashion design, automobile engineering, furniture making, and welding and fabrication, which he described as important to Ghana’s economic development.
He urged the graduates to build on their qualifications by pursuing further education and professional development while contributing to the development of their communities.
“Be innovative. Be excellent. Employ others. And remember to come back and climb to NC I, NC II, and eventually into the tertiary level,” he advised.
In her speech, Professor Hamidatu Darimani, the Vice Chancellor of the Dr Hilla Liman Technical University, urged graduating artisans to place greater emphasis on practical competence, creativity and character than on the certificates they have obtained.
Prof. Darimani said the true value of their training would be demonstrated through what they could do with their hands, how they applied their knowledge and the attitude they brought to their work.
“Your hands, your mind and your attitude matter more than the certificate,” Prof. Darimani said.
She described skills as an economic asset that could provide individuals with opportunities to earn income and become financially independent.
“A skills man is a rich man. If you have skills and you are not rich, then there is a problem,” she said.
Discover more from Kangyirifm.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
