Eduwatch, ACET push for urgent reforms to transform Ghana’s TVET sector

Education Think Tank Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) and the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET) are calling for reforms in Ghana’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. They want to position TVET as a key driver of national economic transformation.

This call was made during a workshop in Accra on April 30. The workshop presented findings from the study “TVET for Economic Transformation in Ghana.” It brought together stakeholders from government, private sector, civil society, TVET institutions, and development partners.

The study revealed significant weaknesses in the system. These include inadequate public funding, outdated training equipment, and gaps in policy implementation. There is also poor digital infrastructure and limited private sector engagement.

A major concern is the lack of investment in green skills needed for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). This highlights the need to align TVET with global workforce trends. The study also found gaps in teacher capacity, gender equity, and coordination between formal and informal TVET systems.

Kofi Asare, Eduwatch's Executive Director, stressed the need for urgent action. He said, “The time to transform Ghana’s TVET system is now.” He emphasized that financing skills development and modernizing infrastructure are crucial.

Key recommendations from the workshop include allocating at least 5% of the national education budget to TVET. Other suggestions are accelerating competency-based training and work-based learning. Participants also called for mainstreaming digital skills and expanding ICT infrastructure.

They urged promoting gender-responsive policies and equitable access to education. Building partnerships with the private sector is essential too. Upskilling instructors to deliver relevant content on green skills and 4IR is also necessary.

Participants called for better coordination between formal and informal training providers. They urged the government to create stronger frameworks for inter-agency collaboration. Eduwatch concluded by urging all stakeholders to act quickly on these recommendations.

They aim to transform Ghana’s TVET sector into a resilient engine for economic growth and youth employment.