Minister for Education, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, has dismissed the perception that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is a last resort for school dropouts, stressing instead that TVET is a vital pathway for national development.
Speaking at the 2025 TVET Pitso forum in Gaborone, Botswana, the Minister stated, “TVET is no longer a path reserved for the less academically inclined or a punishment for non-conformist youth. Today, TVET is the backbone of national development. It is our government’s top priority for industrialisation and job creation.”
The forum, co-hosted by Botswana’s Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) at Ba Isago University, was officially opened by H.E. Mr. Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana. Minister Iddrisu addressed participants on the role of human capital development in meeting the demands of the modern world of work.
He acknowledged historical challenges faced by many African countries in developing effective TVET systems, including low public perception, inadequate investment, and the misalignment between training and industry needs.
Outlining Ghana’s reforms, the Minister highlighted the establishment of three new Technical Universities with specialisations in Digital Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, and Applied Healthcare Sciences. These institutions offer training from short courses to Bachelor of Technology degrees.
Ghana has also introduced reforms to strengthen STEM education and reposition TVET as a viable and attractive career path. Among the major milestones are the enactment of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act 2020, which established the Commission for TVET (CTVET), and the creation of Sector Skills Bodies (SSBs) to lead industry-informed curriculum development.
Additionally, the Pre-Tertiary Education Act 2020 led to the formation of the Ghana TVET Service, tasked with managing all public pre-tertiary TVET institutions. These strategic policies have contributed to a dramatic rise in enrollment, growing from approximately 42,000 students in 2018 to over 235,000 by the 2024 academic year.
Minister Iddrisu urged African stakeholders to support Botswana’s HRDC initiative through funding, partnerships, and technical assistance, and called for greater efforts in promoting gender inclusion within the TVET space.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
