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How TVET Can Support Ghana’s Youth Employment Agenda: A Strategic Shift Towards Skills for Jobs

6th June 2025

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Ghana’s youth population is growing fast—but so is unemployment. With nearly 60% of the unemployed population under 30, the country’s development hinges on transforming education to equip young people with employable skills. That’s where Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) becomes not just relevant, but indispensable.

As the government deepens its commitment to transforming the TVET landscape, here’s how TVET can directly support Ghana’s youth employment agenda.

🛠️ 1. Aligning TVET with Labour Market Needs

TVET must be demand-driven, not supply-led. That means:

Developing curricula linked to sectors like construction, agribusiness, green jobs, ICT, manufacturing, and tourism
Collaborating with industry to design competency-based training
Updating national occupational standards in line with 4IR (Fourth Industrial Revolution) skills

🧑🏽‍🏫 2. Expanding Access and Equity

Many youth in underserved areas, especially girls and persons with disabilities, are excluded from skills development.

Government must expand TVET infrastructure in rural and peri-urban areas
Introduce scholarships, stipends, and gender-sensitive recruitment
Create accessible pathways from informal apprenticeships to formal TVET qualifications

🧭 Explore: How to access TVET scholarships in Ghana

🔄 3. Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship

Real employment comes from hands-on, workplace exposure.

Promote dual TVET systems—school plus workplace
Incentivize businesses to take on apprentices
Recognize informal learning through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

💻 4. Digital and Green Skills Integration

The future of work is digital and sustainable.

Embed basic digital literacy and coding in all TVET programs
Expand green skills training in areas like solar energy, sustainable construction, and climate-smart agriculture
Partner with EdTech firms to deliver blended learning

🌱 Feature: How TVET is going green in Ghana – EU-GIZ Partnership

🏗️ 5. Strengthening the Role of CTVET

The Commission for TVET (CTVET) must be empowered to coordinate effectively.

Improve oversight of both public and private TVET providers
Maintain quality assurance through institutional accreditation and tracer studies
Establish strong linkages with universities and polytechnics to create progression pathways

🗃️ Insight: CTVET outlines strategic plan for skills transformation

🤝 6. Public-Private and Industrial Partnerships

TVET alone cannot solve youth unemployment—industry must be at the table.

Forge partnerships with associations like AGI, GEA, and GUTA
Co-fund training centers and innovation hubs
Develop internship-to-employment pipelines

📢 7. National Branding and Perception Change

TVET still suffers from a perception problem. Many view it as a last resort.

Launch nationwide campaigns under “Skills Make Ghana Work”
Celebrate TVET champions and innovators
Mainstream TVET success stories into career guidance

📺 Watch: TVET Stars Ghana Documentary Series

🎯 Conclusion

TVET isn’t just a form of education—it’s an engine for national development. By investing in skills, Ghana can unlock productivity, drive innovation, and empower its youth to thrive in a dynamic economy.

“If we get TVET right, we’ll not just reduce unemployment—we’ll create entrepreneurs, problem solvers, and job creators,” says Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, Director General of CTVET.