Link education to industries – CAMFED
Madam Delores Dickson, Executive Director for Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED-Ghana), has suggested the need for a linkage between school curricula and the industrial field for graduates to properly integrate into the job market.
She said what was being taught in our schools does not have much relevance to the job market thus creating problems in the system saying ‘there needs to be a better link between skills development, education and industry’.
Madam Dickson was speaking in Tamale on Wednesday during a learning forum for national partners of CAMFED innovation bursary programme where selected young ladies were being linked to some individuals and institutions to sharpen their business ideas.
She said about 30 young ladies were being assisted by her outfit on the path to successful entrepreneurship.
Madam Millicent Achimboye, Business Development Manager of CAMFED, said had developed CAMFED Master Card Foundation partnership programme, a five-year pilot programme targeted at Cama members thus young women that have been trained by CAMFED.
She said the programme offers an innovative approach to expose beneficiaries to new knowledge, skills, markets and financial services that will allow them to replicate business models in their communities.
Madam Achimboye said the objective of the programme was to create the opportunity for potential young entrepreneurs to lead the change through innovation and diversification to be delivered with a network of partners both locally and internationally.
She noted that the new innovation had established businesses in rural communities using appropriate technologies and generating new employment generated by Cama entrepreneurs adding that it ‘will become a foundation for a more vibrant local business environment’.
She mentioned soap and detergent production, solar energy generation, textiles and agro-processing, mobile health servicing, crafts and catering services, Information Communication Technology /photography, bead making, fashion designing and shea butter processing as some of the business ideas that the Cama members were engaged in.
Madam Achimboye said young women needed to develop good business plans to attract funding support provided by micro finance institutions.
Alhassan Sohua, a young entrepreneur trained by CAMFED, said she has ventured into solar installation and selling of solar energy products to hospitals, schools and communities and making good profit and entreated more young people to develop interest in business activities to make good money for themselves.
She said her products have helped most deprived communities to have access to electricity noting that the set up capital has been a major worry and appealed to organizations to support young persons interested in growing their own businesses.
Source: GNA