The freshers including males and females, are expected to pursue a two-year program in various courses ranging from fashion, cosmetology, beauty therapy, millinery, hair technology, among others in creative art.
Speaking at the short but colorful ceremony held on Friday at the College located at Spintex, Director of Abrantie College, King David Thompson observed the many learning opportunities available for all manner of persons at the school.
“We have different sessions that enable people in all aspects of life to acquire creative arts skills i.e. formal, non formal and informal,” Mr. Thompson, an expert in cosmetology who has worked with several beauty institutions around the world, said.
“Formal session is where students are engaged in 50% theory and 50& practical. Non formal session is where students do 20% pragmatic theory and 80% practical,” he explained.
According to him, “Both sessions do internal and external exams and are issued qualified certificates either with GES or NVTI.”
He added that “we also have the informal session where students come in to learn just the skills from the Salon or Production unit. The school runs a compulsory internship program for every student before they can complete their studies.”
According to him, at Abrantie College, students are mostly prepared for the job market right after their studies.
“In every semester, outreach programs are organized for students to experience the job market which helps build their confidence,” he noted.
The Spintex-based college established in 2007, is aggressively putting in place key measures to revolutionize fashion in Ghana.
It has numerous skilled graduands who are actively working as hairstylists, lecturers, beauticians in many cosmetology schools nationwide.
Relief Package
As part measures to make learning affordable for the masses, the school, Mr. Thompson disclosed, has instituted a process to reduce or eliminate financial barriers that might limit students access to education.
“Through the Abrantie Invest, financial assistance is provided to qualified students who, without such assistance, may not be able to meet their educational and practical expenses at school,” he underscored.
“This aid is available in the form of scholarships, either in full or in part. About 20 students are sponsored each year through other benevolence of individuals and corporate bodies,” according to him.
He added that “being sensitive to the plight of students, the College has made provision for students to pay 50% or 30% of their fees at the beginning of the first semester, and the remaining, before the end of the semester with some special arrangement with the financial manager.”
The Director urged the matriculants to take their studies seriously so as to enable acquire the best of skills they would need to impact their lives positively and contribute to the advancement of their families and society as a whole.
“Excellence and discipline education comes with responsibility. To those of you who have been admitted to study at Abrantie College, you have an obligation to use your education for the benefit of others,” he admonished.
Manager of the College, Mary Serebour in her welcome remarks during the colorful ceremony pointed out that Abrantie provides a shift from traditional apprenticeship to formal training, describing the school as a pacesetter in the industry.