Minister for Education, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, has spotlighted Ghana’s dramatic strides in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) transformation at the 2025 TVET Pitso Forum held in Gaborone, Botswana.
The high-level event, 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.
Addressing the forum, Minister Iddrisu emphasized the pivotal role of human capital development in building resilient economies and adapting to the rapidly changing world of work. He noted that for many African countries, TVET has historically suffered from limited investment, low public perception, and weak industry alignment—but this narrative is changing.
“TVET is no longer a path reserved for the less academically inclined or a punishment for non-conformist youth,” he declared. “Today, TVET is the backbone of national development. It is our government’s top priority for industrialization and job creation.”
He outlined Ghana’s aggressive reforms to tackle youth unemployment and make TVET more attractive and responsive to market needs. These include the creation of three new Technical Universities focused on Digital Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, and Applied Healthcare Sciences, offering short-term certifications and full degrees.
Other initiatives include a national focus on STEM education, policy reforms through the Education Regulatory Bodies Act 2020, and the establishment of the Commission for TVET (CTVET) to regulate and promote skills development. The introduction of Sector Skills Bodies (SSBs) has ensured direct industry participation in curriculum design.
The passage of the Pre-Tertiary Education Act 2020 also created the Ghana TVET Service, which oversees pre-tertiary TVET institutions and implements demand-driven, competency-based training nationwide.
These reforms have yielded tangible results. TVET enrollment in Ghana has surged from around 42,000 students in 2018 to over 235,000 in the 2024 academic year.
In closing, Minister Iddrisu called on African governments, donors, and development partners to support Botswana’s HRDC through funding, partnerships, and technical expertise, while advocating for greater gender inclusion in TVET pathways.
