Mr Bonzoh K cuts sod to begin the project
Government has voted a whopping one million dollars for infrastructural development at Charlotte Dolphyne Vocational Institute at Sanzule in the Ellembelle district of Western Region.
This is to help upgrade and address all infrastructural needs of the institute to promote vocational education in the district.
Ten projects, including the provision of a state-of-the-art administration block, three workshops, rehabilitation of a catering and block laying concreting platforms as well as the construction of a 200-capacity two-storey dormitories for boys and girls, are being executed at the school.
Apart from infrastructural development, the institute will also be provided with a 33-seater bus. Teachers in the school are also being trained to meet current trends of technical and vocational training. Plans are also underway to offer oil and gas courses at the institute.
Back to life
According to Reverend Markelby, the contractor, all the ten projects will be completed and handed over in December this year.
All things being equal, the current student population of 502 is expected to increase to 1,500 by the year 2024.
At the sod cutting ceremony, performed by Kwasi Bonzoh, the Ellembelle district chief executive on Monday, stakeholders, including traditional leaders, educationists, and the residents of the area paid glowing tributes to the Akufo- Addo-led NPP government for salvaging the institute from infrastructural deficit, inadequate tools and equipment.
Charllote Dophyne Vocational Institute was established by the chiefs and people of Sanzule in 2003, with two deceased leaders of the community, Nana Asafo Boakye II, the chief, and one Kofi Dolphyne, playing lead roles.
The institute started with 23 students at the palace and has since churned out over 1, 200 trainees employed in all spheres of the economy.
Open to all
The manager of the institute, Philemon Osei Sarfo, commended the ministries of Education, Employment and Labour Relations as well as the National Vocational Training Institute for their efforts in making the infrastructural development exercise a reality.
She noted that technical and vocational education is not reserved for unintelligent people, and urged members of the public to disabuse their minds of such perception.
On the contrary, he said, it is for serious and objective individuals and a “short-cut” to making money.
In a brief remark, Kwasi Bonzoh, the DCE, said the sod cutting marks a turning point in the life of Charlotte Dolphyne Vocational Institute. He expressed the hope that the infrastructural development is going to transform the whole school to the envy of other sister institutes.
Illicit affairs
He cautioned the female students against engaging in illicit relationships with the construction workers, saying such acts may lead to unwanted pregnancies and abrupt end to their education.
Nationwide facelift
Mr Bonzoh said the infrastructural development forms part of a nationwide programme by government to give all technical and vocational institutions in the country a facelift.
He also disclosed plans by the government to make technical and vocational education free next year to put trainees at the same level with their counterparts in senior high schools.
Bonzoh K, as he is popularly called, assured them that the NPP government has the well-being and education of the youth at heart and will leave no stone unturned in promoting education in the country.
The he DCE further disclosed that besides Charlotte Dolphyne Vocational Institute, government has made funds available for the construction of facilities in the remaining six second cycle institutions in Ellembelle, citing construction of 1 -storey 12 unit classroom block at Nkroful Agriculture Senior High School and Kikam Technical Institute to improve teaching and learning.
