Mrs. Abena Hawa, President of the Dormaa Chapter of the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA), has appealed to parents to give children pursuing apprenticeships and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) the same level of support offered to those in formal education.
She made the appeal during graduation examinations organised for 23 GHABA apprentices at Dormaa Ahenkro. According to her, mentors and trainers are committed to helping apprentices gain the necessary skills within their three to four years of training, but many learners are often overwhelmed with household responsibilities that affect their progress.
Mrs. Hawa said apprentices should be treated with the same seriousness as students in tertiary institutions, stressing that unnecessary distractions can delay their development and future success. She revealed that some master craftsmen and women are sometimes forced to financially support apprentices because of inadequate assistance from parents.
She further noted that lack of financial support can push some apprentices into unhealthy relationships, which may lead to teenage pregnancies and eventually disrupt their training and career prospects. She therefore urged parents to invest equally in children learning trades to help secure a better future for them.
Vice President of the Dormaa Ahenkro chapter of GHABA, Joyce Yeboaa, commended the government for introducing the Free Apprenticeship Programme, describing it as a major opportunity for young people who could not afford skills training because of financial difficulties.
She appealed to the government to expand the programme and create more opportunities for the youth. Madam Yeboaa also called for support for master craftsmen, women and apprentices through regular workshops and training programmes to help them keep up with modern trends and improve the quality of their work and teaching.
Meanwhile, Judith Meredith Arhin, an examiner from GHABA’s national headquarters in Accra, praised the graduating apprentices for their creativity and the quality of their practical projects. She said although a few minor mistakes were identified, they would be addressed after the examinations to help the apprentices improve before receiving their certification and graduating officially.