The Dean of the University of Cape Coast School of Business, Prof. John Gatsi has admonished the newly graduated students of the Ericjem Institute to build their personality, saying it will help sustain their lives.
Speaking at the 13th Ericjem Institute graduation in Ho over the weekend, Prof. Gatsi told the graduates they will be able to generate and sustain income if they are guided by the principles in the sectors they fine themselves.
According to him they should plan what they want to do with the skills acquired explaining that planning should be taken seriously to provide the with a clear path to do what they want to do.
Prof. Gatsi encouraged the graduates to take record keeping seriously to be able to account for their expenses, materials and ideas to improve their businesses. He advised them against pride and misuse of business income.
He said good personality, respect for customers and continuous engagement with stable customers will help sustain their business and income. He asked them to take loan moderately only for their businesses to avoid destruction of their businesses.
Speaking on the theme income sustainability through vocational education, Prof. Gatsi said Ghana needs to pay special attention to technical and vocational education in a manner that will attract young people. He said the great educational reform undertaken in 1987 established the junior secondary system with tools and machinery to infuse skills development but the original JHS has been adulterated such that skills development died with time. He further in many advanced economies not everybody aspires to attend University . Some people after high school enroll in vocational training institutions for a maximum period of one year to learn skills that earn them quality income throughout life. We should therefore educate young ones that technical and vocational education is for nation builders. Those who attend vocational institutions should not be treated as academically weak persons. Vocational training graduates should rather be proud for directly helping build the country.
Prof. Gatsi thanked the Member of Parliament of the Anlo Constituency for sponsoringa number of youth to acquire vocational skills to establish themselves.
