AfDB’s skills project trains Master Crafts Persons

The Development of Skills for Industry Project (DSIP), an African Development Bank (AfDB) sponsored project, has organised a 3-day Trainer of Trainers (ToT) workshop for 150 Trade Association members in the Central and Western Regions.

The ToT workshop, being implemented by the Project Support Unit of the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET), was aimed at enhancing the skills of Master Craft Persons (MCP) in the Competency Based Training (CBT) methods developed by COTVET.

A statement from the Project Support Unit said the workshop has helped to improve the skills and knowledge of the MCPs in the use of CBT modules.

MCPs play critical roles in providing skills training of some 300,000 apprentices in the informal sector each year, contributing to skills acquisition and employment creation, but, without any specific harmonized standards.

Participating trade associations included Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Associations, Ghana National Association of Garages and the Ghana National Tailors and Dress Makers Association.

The selection of participants was based on the number of Master Craft Persons in the region and the demand for training in these locations.

The training also aims at promoting the development of skills in females in traditional trade areas such as Cosmetology and Hairdressing and Garments while promoting their participation in male-dominated trades such as Welding and Electronics.

The programme is the final of three national workshops; the first two were held in Tamale and Ho for MCPs in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Eastern and Volta Regions.

The training workshop focused on training Master Craft Persons on how to train apprentices in Competency Based Mode, how to interpret unit specifications at Proficiencies I & II developed by COTVET, how to assess the apprentices using the CBT methods, how to effectively use and maintain training materials, tools and equipment and also how to effectively use learning materials to enhance apprenticeship training.

Participants of the workshop will be assessed by COTVET Certified Internal and External Verifiers. Certification will be awarded to successful participants by COTVET. The programme is being monitored by the Monitoring and Evaluation department of the COTVET-PSU to ensure effectiveness, while ensuring the sustainability and success of the programme.

Matthey Dally, Head of the Project Support Unit of COTVET, said the DSIP had so far trained a total of 500 Master Craft Persons nationwide this year, after which it would be sustained through further training of Master Craft Persons and Apprentices at selected Training Providers for a fee.

He said training providers would be encouraged to seek funding from BUSAC and the SDF to organize further training for future Master Craft persons in the CBT mode.

It is expected that at the end of the training the beneficial MCPs should be able to train apprentices using the CBT Methods from standards generation to assessment methods.

Be conversant with and be able to apply occupational, health and safety measures at the workplace and to apply quality control measures to improve standards while adding value to products

They must also be conversant with basics of proper record keeping and to access the internet to upgrade knowledge, skills and technologies in their trade areas.

Participating Master Craft Persons expressed satisfaction with the lessons and knowledge acquired through the three-day training session, which also afforded them an opportunity to share knowledge and experiences with colleague Master Craft persons from other Trade Associations in the two regions.

They expressed confidence that such initiatives would also help promote female participation in traditionally male dominated trade areas, thereby eroding the poor perceptions about acquisition of specific trades by gender in TVET.

Source: GNA