Implementation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Bo City: Challenges and Prospects

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is that aspect of education that is intended to expose learners to the acquisition of skills that equip them for the job market at the middle-man power level. The main focus of TVET is to enable learners acquire practical skills, related to occupations in various sectors of the economy. The study examined how TVET is implemented by Technical and Vocational Institutions in Bo city in a bid to account for the prospects and challenges these institutions face while implementing TVET programmes. The study is a descriptive survey of some selected Technical and Vocational institutions in Bo City. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used in data collection. Questionnaires were administered to sixty-five (65) instructors from five (5) Technical and Vocational institutions in Bo city. These included Sierra Leone Opportunities Industrialisation Centre (SLOIC), Government Technical Institute, (GTI) Craftshire Technical Institute (CTI), Creative Crafts Education Centre (CCEC) and Southern Agro-Industrial Development Associates Centre (SAIDAC). Some of the findings were that the Technical and Vocational Institutions in Bo city operate with inadequate number of academic and supporting staff, poor ICT facilities, insufficient supply of electricity and water supply. It was also found out that resources provided by government were grossly inadequate for the operation of Technical and Vocational Institutions, thus posing serious operational challenges.