Ghanaian technical institute needs urgent infrastructure support, says principal

The Shama Technical Institute (SHATEC) in Ghana's Western Region faces significant infrastructure challenges that are straining its ability to provide quality education, according to Principal Paul Quaysie. He stated that the school is struggling to meet the demands of its expanding student body and urgently requires support from the government, private sector, and other stakeholders.

A primary concern is the stalled construction of a three-storey classroom block, initiated in 2022 and primarily funded by the school's Internally Generated Fund (IGF) with student labor. Quaysie emphasized that completing this block is crucial for providing much-needed additional classroom space and improving the learning environment.

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SHATEC commenced the construction of a classroom block in 2022, which remains incomplete and requires urgent completion.

Beyond classrooms, SHATEC requires dormitories, an assembly hall, an administration block, and well-equipped practical workshops. The institute also needs a dining hall, teachers' bungalows, a school bus, and a pick-up vehicle to support its operations and student welfare. Quaysie specifically called upon the Shama Municipal Assembly and major companies like Volta River Authority (VRA), Tullow Ghana, and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) for assistance.

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The Electrical Engineering Department had only two permanent teachers despite having the largest student population.

Staffing is another critical issue. Quaysie appealed to the government and the Ghana TVET Service to recruit more teachers. He noted that the Electrical Engineering Department, despite having the largest student population, has only two permanent teachers. The Architecture Department, with approximately 81 students, lacks any permanent instructors, forcing Quaysie himself to facilitate teaching there. SHATEC currently employs 32 staff, including 27 teachers and five non-teaching personnel.

Established in 2000 as the Integrated Community Centre for Employable Skills (ICCES), the institute was renamed SHATEC under the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020, and placed under the Ghana TVET Service. It offers programs in Architectural Drafting and Design, Electrical Engineering Technology, Building Construction Technology, Hair Technology, Fashion Technology, Hospitality and Catering Management, and Beauty Therapy. Despite the challenges, SHATEC remains committed to producing skilled and entrepreneurial graduates to contribute to national development, having trained over 2,000 individuals to date.

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The Architecture Department, which had about 81 students, had no permanent teacher and needed at least six qualified instructors.