Kumasi: Dr. William Amankrah Appiah, Ashanti Regional Director of Education, has reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening technical and vocational education (TVET) to equip the youth with requisite skills for job creation and employment.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Appiah emphasized that industry participation in TVET education is a crucial component of the government's transformation agenda. The government is actively providing support and incentives to TVET institutions to enhance teaching, learning, and industrial internships. Speaking in an interview in Kumasi, Dr. Appiah highlighted the objective of making TVET education more attractive to young people, encouraging them to enroll and acquire employable skills.
TVET is reportedly thriving in the Ashanti region, with stakeholders increasing partnerships with government agencies, educational institutions, and industry to equip the youth with practical skills for their future. Dr. Appiah mentioned that Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) has established strategic platforms to bridge the gap between TVET schools and tertiary education, including the inauguration of a dedicated committee to enhance engagement with 38 TVET institutions in the region. This initiative aims to link classroom learning with practical industry experience to improve employment outcomes for graduates.
He further stressed the importance of integrating private sector inputs into curriculum design and skills delivery, which would improve productivity and strengthen the competitiveness of the skilled labor force. Additionally, the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) has initiated a five-year TVET training program in agriculture to ensure economic empowerment and foster sustainable livelihoods for graduates.
Moreover, the Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) has partnered with the Design and Technology Institute (DTI) to promote precision quality in TVET. This partnership focuses on retooling key departments such as Carpentry, Upholstery, Fashion Design, Welding, and Fabrication to integrate competency-based curricula that align training with industry needs, thus enhancing youth employability. Ms. Constance Swaniker, Founder and President of DTI, informed that the upgraded training environment would benefit over 4,000 students at KTI, as well as unemployed youth from surrounding communities. This initiative is contributing to efforts to reduce graduate unemployment and strengthen livelihoods.
The Institute recently signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 35 TVET institutions across the region to foster closer partnerships that bolster workforce development, promote employability, and enhance industry competitiveness. Ms. Swaniker emphasized that sharpening the relevance of TVET programs in Kumasi is essential not only for job creation but also for broader socio-economic development. This can be achieved by supplying industry with trained technicians, artisans, and entrepreneurs while addressing chronic skills shortages in the regional economy.