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The Association of Principals of Technical Institutions (APTI) has deplored the neglect of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. The association has therefore asked that the TVET institutions be segregated from the Ghana Education Service (GES) and placed directly under the Ministry of Education to ensure smooth co-ordination for it to receive the attention it deserved. The President of the APTl, Mr John Boafo, made the call en he addressed the opening of the 25th conference of the association at the Cape Coast Technical Institute. The conference was on theme "Quality Technical Vocational Education and Training: Prerequisite for Ghana's Industrialisation and the Oil Discovery" . "APTl believe that there is likely to be conflict of policy direction if TVET should still remain under GES. We strongly request that TVET be placed under the MoE to ensure smooth direction and co-ordination to receive the attention it deserves," he said. Mr Boafo noted that TVET institutions bad been deteriorating, saying that the equipment, infrastructure and laboratories have been in poor state. "APTl is pleading for the status of TVET to be well and clearly defined," he said. He said the outdated training content and the inadequate number of the institutions brought about a negative Perception and image of the institutions. He also called for an increase in the utility bill per student, saying the current GH�3.55 per student was inadequate because their training involved practical training, which included the use of power equipment and machines. Mr Boafo also called for a well -developed human resource in terms of relevant knowledge and practical experience by improving the conditions of service. In an address' read on his behalf, the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, said the Government would work to provide facilities to improve training at TVET institutions, saying emerging industries; particularly the oil industry, would need products of the TVET. He called on the industry to redirect resources towards supporting the training of personnel for the industries from TVET institutions. The Director-General of the GES, Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, said the Government would give the needed support to TVET to ensure that opportunities were provided for progression into the polytechnics and the universities. He stated that the development of human capital was the only means by which Ghana could properly integrate into the growing technological and scientific world. He said the oil find placed a challenge on the doorstep of TVET to deliver good quality services for national development. The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa- Doe, said parents whose children had the flair for technical skills should not discourage them because of the wrong perception that TVET was for the academically weak. They should rather encourage them, she said.