By Bertha Badu-Agyei/Harriet Kwakye
Accra, Sept 30, GNA- The Vocational Training for Females (VTF) Programme, Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) Advocacy Group, has stressed the need for stronger communication strategy to promote the free TVET policy, especially in remote communities where information gap remained a challenge.
In outlining a number of key issues confronting the sector, during a courtesy call on Dr Eric Kofi Adzroe, the Director-General of the TVET Service, the group mentioned poor perception of TVET among parents, teachers and youth as one of the challenges needed to be addressed.
Ms Linda Agyei, Director of the VTF Programme on behalf of the VTF-TVET advocacy group, noted that research pointed that TVET was regarded as a second option for those who were not academically inclined as well as inadequate information on the free TVET policy.
The visit, which formed part of ongoing engagements with key stakeholders in the TVET sector by the VTF-led Advocacy group was also to strengthen collaboration for wider consultation with key partners.
The group also highlighted administrative bottlenecks in accreditation, including the high cost of accreditation, and the limited capacity of training institutions as well as the exclusion of Proficiency Levels one and two from the TVET policy leaving out many vulnerable learners.
For instance, “the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) is the sole trainer in Competency-Based Training (CBT), which limits accessibility and slows down progress.”
Mr Tsornam Akpeloo, Greater-Accra Regional Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries, a member of the advocacy group, touched on the Work-Study Learning (WEL) system, where collaboration with industries remained weak and the lack of subsidies to encourage industry participation and called for stipends and insurance packages for learners.
Despite these challenges, the group commended government for its renewed commitment to the TVET sector, while urging consistency in implementation reforms to ensure TVET became attractive for young people.
The VTF Programme is non-governmental organization dedicated to enhancing employment opportunities for young people, especially females through TVET, and as part of their operations formed the advocacy group to enhance the TVET sector.
The Director-General commended the group for the call and the frank conversations, adding that “this level of openness in developing the skills industry is going to ensure that we lack nothing in the TVET sector in a few years to come. This advocacy has to be commended and encouraged,” he said.
While commending the group for the advocacy, he also outlined some of the reforms already underway, particularly the integration of WEL into the academic calendar.
“Unlike in the past, where WEL was treated as a vacation activity, the new system currently being piloted for 2026 allocates a large portion of the second semester to industry-based learning.
“In that regard, liaison officers are already mapping out industries for placements, including those in the informal sector, which we also recognize as holding great potential for learners,” he added.
Dr Adzroe, reaffirmed his commitment to building a strong and inclusive TVET system and called for continued collaboration.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah