The Newmont Akyem Development Foundation (NAkDeF) with the collaborative effort of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and other key stakeholders have officially opened the Akyem Vocational & Technical Institute (AVTI), with the aim to provide hands-on technical training to the youth in our Akyem mine host communities.
The facility was established by NAkDeF at a cost of GHS 3.1million.
The AVTI is the result of NAkDeF’s Akyem Skills, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (A-SEED) programme in partnership with GIZ.
Construction works, furnishing and equipment installation were completed in December 2021 ahead of operations in February 2022.
The Institute has been duly accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Services under the Ministry of Education and is providing competency-based training courses approved by the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET).
The duration for each course is three years leading to a Certificate I and II. There is also a four-year High National Diploma (HND) programme.
An initial cohort of ninety-six (96) students from the host communities have been enrolled on full scholarships from the NAkDeF.
The accredited courses include Welding and Fabrication, General Electrical, Plumbing, Building and Construction.
Plans are afoot to introduce intensive practical courses in Fashion and Designing, Home Economics, Cosmetology, Carpentry and Joinery and Automobile Engineering.
We believe that by equipping our young women and men with the technical and professional skills needed to accelerate socio-economic development, we are paving the way for self-reliant youths and entrepreneurs who are able to optimize opportunities.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Kwabena Nyarko Abronoma
