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Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, Upper East Regional Minister has stated that government was dedicated to supporting skills training using technical education at all levels. He said government had technical education as its priority, adding that, it was imperative to have a critical mass of Ghanaians with skills for national development. Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru made these statements during the start of 2013 Examination of the National Board for Professionals and Technical Education at the Bolgatanga Technical Institute (BOTECH) on Monday. In all 971 students, offering nine different courses, made up of 628 males and 343 females are sitting for the exams expected to take three weeks. According to him, it was the critical mass of the country�s population with adequate skills training that could effectively develop the country, saying �the improvement of the teaching and learning environment through the provision of facilities and equipment for technical education was government�s priority�. He admonished the students to hold on to their technical knowledge and develop it to the highest level possible and called on the female students not to perceive technical education as a field for males. Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru, who is also a Minister of State for Human Resource Development noted that government would in the coming years liaise with industries and focus on the emerging sectors of the economy to train technical students in line with the demands of these industries. Mr Paul Apanga, Regional Director of Education, who accompanied the Minister, noted that technical education was part of Government�s Strategic Education Plan and that it was high on government agenda. He said the Upper East Region was making headway in terms of technical education, adding that, government had approved an additional technical school in the region bringing the number to three. This, he said, would give the opportunity to the youth and other students to have technical training while providing more skills competency based technical and vocational education. He noted that the Bolgatanga Technical Institute had benefited from a number of infrastructural developments and said the school had been identified for an Information Communication and Technology (ICT) centre in the region. Mr Apanga expressed satisfaction at the conduct of this year�s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and congratulated heads of second cycle institutions for their advanced preparation in containing the high numbers of students sitting the exams.