A total of 30 students have graduated from St. Clares Technical Institute during its 27th congregation ceremony held at Tumu.
They graduated in Fashion Design Technology, Hospitality and Catering Management, Textile Hand Weaving, Information and Communication Technology and Electrical Engineering Technology.
Sister Catherine Naaeke, the Principal of the Institute indicated at the congregation that out of the 30 graduands, 44 students got enrolled into the school in 2019, however, 14 students dropped out along the line.
She said out of the 30 graduands, seven graduands had the qualifications to pursue regular degree programmes whilst 16 could pursue Higher National Diploma courses with the rest qualifying for advance courses at the Polytechnics.
She appealed to the government and stakeholders especially parents to support the school, adding that the school was faced with numerous challenges including lack of infrastructure, non-payment of 12 casual staff yet to be put on the government payroll, absence of tutors for English Language, Integrated Science, Social studies, Catering, Information Communication Technology, Electricals, and weaving.
“With the introduction of the free Technical Vocational Education Training for all, we declared a vacancy for 140 students to be placed, but the inadequate infrastructure allowed us to accommodate only 83.
“We have only a few staff bungalows and so most of the staff stay outside the school premises making monitoring of students a challenge and we still have no dormitory block for the boys,” she said.
She commended the government for the donation of a 33-seater bus but said transportation for administrative work was still a challenge in the institute.
Mr Amidu Chinnia Issahaku, the Member of Parliament for the Sissala East constituency commended the principal and staff for their efforts in managing the school.
He urged the graduands to take advantage of the skills acquired to start a trade or further their education.
Mr Yakubu Fuseini Batong, the Sissalla East Municipal Chief Executive assured that the government would continue to make strides in making education a right not a privilege for everyone.
“That is why the government has refocused vocational education is not specific trade such as automobile mechanic welders, which was associated with lower social classes, but have to redirect our thinking on how to educate our children to avoid the long queue of getting formal employment,” he said.
Kuoro Zakaria Savei Mahmoud, Kong Kuoro who represented the Paramount Chief appealed to the principal to work with the Member of Parliament to get the 12 staff of the school the process of putting them onto the government payroll to ensure effective teaching and learning.
He appealed for business Start- ups for the graduands to begin something on their own from the Sissala East Assembly and other development partners to put their training to practice.