St. Basilide’s Technical Institute launches Golden Jubilee anniversary

The St. Basilide’s Technical Institute at Kaleo in the Nadowli-Kaleo District has launched its Golden Jubilee (50th) anniversary to mark the successes the school has chalked and the challenges that need redress.

The school was started in 1973 by the catholic missionaries (FIC Brothers) to provide technical and vocational education and training to the people in the region and beyond in an attempt to develop the needed human resources for the technical and vocational sector.

The school has since produced resourceful personalities for both the public and private sectors across the country.

Speaking at the launch, Brother Fabian Bezel, the Principal of the school, noted that the vision which necessitated the establishment of the institute was to give young people in the region and beyond with the needed employable and relevant skills through practical-oriented training based on Christian or moral values.

He explained that the institute commenced with a single programme in cabinet making, but now had six skills training programmes for prospective students interested in technical and vocational education and training.

They were: Wood Construction Technology, Welding and Fabrication Technology, Building Construction Technology, Electrical Installation Technology, Fashion and Design Technology, and Solar Photovoltaic Technology.

“The Institute remains committed to providing flexible and quality demand-driven capacity-building skills that are relevant to the youth and by extension, the socio-economic development of the Upper West Region and the nation at large”, Bro. Bezel said.

He expressed dissatisfaction about the wide enrollment gap between the males and females at the school with 728 being males and 227 being females, and appealed to the stakeholders to help bridge the gap by encouraging more females to venture into technical education.

Bro. Bezel expressed gratitude to some notable personalities including the government and the old students of the school, the Nadowli-Kaleo Member of Parliament, the Parent-Teacher-Association, the FIC Brothers and Rotary Club-Germany among others for their diverse contributions to the growth of the school.

He, however, indicated that the school was bedevilled with challenges such as inadequate infrastructure and furniture, lack of a fence wall and Library, lack of a school bus, lack of practical training equipment and obsolete workshop equipment among others and appealed for support.

“I wish to appeal to all stakeholders to assist the Institute to find a lasting solution to some of these challenges if not all, before the final trumpet is blown for the 50th Anniversary celebration”, the Principal appealed.

Mr Martin Tang, the PTA Chairman of the Institute, commended the management of the school, both past and present, for living the vision and mission of the school over the years by making it attain recognition as the best technical school in the region.

He said the Institute had immensely impacted the lives of young men and women since its establishment and is not relent on its oars to project the name of the Institute.

Mr Tang also acknowledged the contributions of the Catholic Church, the Old Students Association and the PTA and other individuals and organisations to the growth of the Institute.

The anniversary was on the theme: “Harnessing Technical/Vocational Skills for the Holistic Development of the Ghanaian Child” and would be observed from June 11 – 18, 2023.