Challenges and opportunities of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system in Ghana
Ghana is currently in the process to reform the national Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system with the aim to form highly skilled local workforces able to support the development of local industry sectors and contribute to a sustainable growth of the Country.
With a population of over 26 million people and a GDP of 1,550USD per capita, Ghana has a 56.6% unemployment rate among the youth population. This situation is partially due to a difficult transition for young people from the school to the job market. At the same time, the Country urgently needs to form a local skilled workforce, able to respond to the increasing demand of new infrastructures, including an efficient public transport system, affordable and safe housing, and reliable energy supply.
In 2006, The Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) has been established in Ghana, with the aim to reform the TVET system and contribute to the development of a productive workforce by linking the education system to the needs of the economy.
According to COTVET, one of the greatest challenges that TVET in Ghana is currently facing is to improve the perception and recognition among the population. Most people have dreams of pursuing academic careers to become doctors, lawyers, or accountants. Trades like auto mechanics, hairdressing, and carpentry are considered the poor alternative to university education.
As a consequence, university graduates spend an average of 2 to 5 years looking for non-existent employment, as local universities produce more graduates than the job market can absorb. Whereas, many national industries, like the emerging oil and gas sector, have a real and growing demand for skilled workers that, in the absence of local skilled workforces, has to be filled by foreign labour.
Another significant challenge is the need to reform the national TVET system. TVET related policies promoted by COTVET aim to establish:
- Industry-led and demand driven Competency-based training (CBT), aimed to promote equitable access, opportunities and career pathways for students and employees to develop their vocational, technical and generic skills; and
- Workplace Experience Learning (WEL) to ensure that the theoretical and practical aspects of the CBT model are integrated and adequately prepare students for the world of work.
Other challenges are presented by limited equipment, lack of regular training for trainers, needs of coordination between TVET and Industry, lack of a clear qualification framework.
Sustainable Skills CEO, Nigel Carpenter, recently visited Ghana to attend the Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) Convention organised in Accra by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and explore potential opportunities for our organisation to support Ghana with the national TVET reform.
Mfumo wa Elimu ya Ufundi na Mafunzo (TVET) nchini Ghana unaendelea na mchakato wa kurekebisha mfumo wa kitaifa wa Elimu ya Ufundi na Mafunzo (TVET) na lengo la kuunda nguvu za kazi za ndani zenye ujuzi wa juu zinazoweza kusaidia maendeleo ya sekta za viwanda vya ndani na kuchangia ukuaji endelevu wa nchi. Ghana ina idadi ya watu milioni 26 na Pato la Taifa la dola za Marekani 1,551 kwa kila mtu, na kiwango cha ukosefu wa kazi ya kuajiriwa ni asilimia 56.6 kati ya vijana. Hali hii ni sehemu kutokana na mabadiliko magumu kwa vijana kutoka shule kwa soko la kazi. Wakati huo huo, nchi inahitaji haraka kuunda nguvu za kazi za kitaifa zenye ujuzi, zinazoweza kukabiliana na mahitaji ya kuongezeka kwa miundombinu mpya, ikiwa ni pamoja na mfumo mzuri wa usafiri wa umma, makazi ya bei nafuu na salama, na usambazaji wa nishati wa kuaminika. Baraza la Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi na Ufundi (COTVET) ni shirika la kitaifa la Ghana ambalo linashughulikia elimu ya ufundi na ufundi wa ufundi na kuendeleza mfumo wa elimu ya ufundi na ufundi wa ufundi. Kulingana na COTWET, moja ya changamoto kubwa ambayo TVET inakabiliwa na Ghana kwa sasa ni kuboresha utambuzi na utambuzi kati ya idadi ya watu. Watu wengi hutamani kufuatia kazi-maisha ya kitaaluma na kuwa madaktari, wanasheria, au wahasibu. Kazi kama vile kutengeneza magari, kutengeneza nywele, na kutengeneza mbao huonwa kuwa njia mbadala mbaya ya kupata elimu ya chuo kikuu. Kwa sababu hiyo, wahitimu wa vyuo vikuu hutumia wastani wa miaka miwili hadi mitano wakitafuta kazi ambayo haipo, kwani vyuo vikuu vya ndani hutokeza wahitimu wengi kuliko soko la kazi linavyoweza kuchukua. """Sehemu kubwa ya viwanda vya kitaifa, kama vile sekta ya mafuta na gesi, zina mahitaji halisi na yanayoongezeka ya wafanyakazi wenye ujuzi ambao, kwa kukosekana kwa nguvu za kazi za kitaifa, lazima kujazwa na kazi ya kigeni." Changamoto nyingine kubwa ni haja ya kurekebisha mfumo wa kitaifa wa TVET. Mipango ya mafunzo ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma na ya kitaaluma. Matatizo mengine ni vifaa vidogo, ukosefu wa mafunzo ya kawaida kwa waalimu, mahitaji ya uratibu kati ya TVET na viwanda, ukosefu wa mfumo wa sifa wazi. "Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Sustainable Skills, Nigel Carpenter, hivi karibuni alitembelea Ghana kuhudhuria Mkutano wa ""Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises"" ulioandaliwa huko Accra na Shirika la Kazi la Kimataifa (ILO) na kuchunguza fursa zinazowezekana kwa shirika letu kusaidia Ghana na mageuzi ya kitaifa ya TVET."