Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has raised serious concerns about the persistently low participation of girls in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes across Ghana, despite the growing demand for skilled labour in various sectors of the economy.
Speaking during a monitoring exercise of the ongoing national TVET examinations in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, the Minister emphasized that the gender disparity in TVET enrollment remains a major developmental hurdle.
“This year, over 55,000 students are taking part in the TVET exams, but only 14,000 are girls. This imbalance is deeply worrying,” he stated.
Minister Iddrisu stressed that in a fast-changing job market where technical and vocational skills are crucial for national growth, it is imperative to ensure equal opportunities for both genders. He described the low female enrollment as a threat to Ghana’s efforts toward achieving gender equality and empowering women through employable skills.
He called on stakeholders—parents, educators, community leaders, and policymakers—to join hands in encouraging more girls to take up technical and vocational pathways. He also pledged the Ministry’s commitment to intensify advocacy, mentorship, and scholarship schemes to bridge the gender gap in TVET institutions.
“Women have a vital role to play in Ghana’s industrialisation and innovation drive. We cannot afford to leave them behind,” Minister Iddrisu added.
As the country continues to push for inclusive and practical education systems, the call for gender-balanced participation in TVET is expected to influence future policies and national campaigns geared towards empowering Ghanaian youth.
