At launch of vocational, technical schools Open Day: Minister Nalova Lyonga urges youth to pursue skills-based education.

The ceremony took place on the campus of Government Technical High School, GTHS, Molyko, Buea. The theme for this year is: “Open Business Days: Showcasing Made in Cameroon Label”.  

The member of government said young people must acquire skills in the course of their education that will enable the country to produce what it needs.

She said the theme highlights government’s drive to use education in general and technical education in particular to promote the local manufacturing and production of goods and services. 

The minister said it also provides a platform for young people to explore their knowledge, skills and the attitude required in the labour market.

Cameroon, she said, “is dedicated to its development and our technical and vocational schools have one obligation to transform into authentic economic production facilities; a critical component in the effective socio-professional integration of our youth”.

Minister Nalova Lyonga advised the youth to put the first 25 years of their lives to productive use by acquiring skills to produce what society needs.

The Secondary Education boss said, the Open Day is a window to assess skills acquired in technical and vocational schools. She also urged the population to take interest in what the students produce. 

Minister Nalova Lyonga also assured that government is doing everything to promote technical and vocational education. She said new technical and vocational schools that meet international standards are being set up.

“We have seen the building of schools, designing of syllabi for innovative specialties like renewable energies and digital technology,” she said. She added that “the introduction of School Entrepreneurship as a course is because we are going to get students to design items that they can sell so that they become not just students, but also traders of the items they design”.

Innovative vocational, technical incubators in view

Minister Nalova Lyonga announced that government has plans to set up 104 mini-incubators in technical and vocational schools. 

She also said there are plans to create a distance education centre for digitalisation and the opening of more technical schools. 

With this vision, she encouraged all stakeholders involved in education to accompany government in ensuring youths acquire productive education.

She also identified digital technology as an area more young people should take interest in. The minister cited domains such as artificial intelligence that can result in creative technological advances in mechanical manufacturing, renewable energies, agricultural and plant production.  Youth, she insisted, must be trained to solve local problems.

Students from several schools across the South West Region exhibited several works at the event. The exhibitions were in areas such as; architectural design, building and construction, computing, handicrafts, home economics, as well as tertiary sciences and technologies. 

Anya Michael, a student of Metallic Work and Industrial Piping at Government Bilingual Technical High School, GBTHS Bamenda, presented his innovative solar charcoal cooker to officials at the event.  The charcoal cooker has earned Anya several prizes nationally. 

The solar charcoal cooker, he said, is unique because it can cook and bake at the same time using   charcoal and solar energy.