Biriwa: A high-level delegation from Zambia has embarked on a weeklong visit to Ghana to explore the country's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system and other skills development models. The visit is part of a collaborative effort to drive development and address youth unemployment in the two countries.
According to Ghana News Agency, the delegation includes top officials from the Zambian Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Ministry of Energy, and Ministry of Science and Technology, as well as representatives from the Chamber of Mines, Tourism Authority, Agricultural Institute, and other institutions. The visit forms part of the European Union-funded Integrated Action on Green Jobs and Skills Project, being implemented by the International Labour Organization to equip young people with relevant skills for the current and future world of work.
The project, which runs from 2024 to 2028, supports policy coordination, capacity building, and curriculum development while promoting green and digital skills across Ghana's TVET system. It also seeks to expand opportunities for women, girls, and persons with disabilities to participate in the digital economy and emerging green sectors.
The Zambian delegation's visit follows an earlier study tour by Ghanaian officials to Zambia, where they engaged with policymakers, students, training institutions, and industry players to learn about Zambia's TVET model. As a model institution, the delegation visited the Biriwa Technical Institute in the Central Region and toured its various workshops and training facilities to gain insight into its structured skills development system and draw lessons from its best practices.
They were accompanied by a multi-institutional team from Ghana, led by Mr. Emmanuel Adjei, the Deputy Director at the Ministry of Labour. Authorities of the Institute provided a detailed brief on the school's transformational journey since 1974 and its operations before leading the delegation on a tour of the training facilities where students were engaged in practical works.
Mr. Samuel Amegbor, the Principal of Biriwa Technical Institute, highlighted the school's evolution into a modern technical institution through investments in infrastructure, workshops, curriculum development, and staff capacity building. He explained that reforms such as the establishment of the Ghana TVET Service and the implementation of the Free TVET Policy have expanded access to technical education and improved the quality of training.
The Principal noted that the institute currently offers 10 programs and has trained more than 9,000 young people, with a current enrollment of 2,072 students pursuing skills in various technical fields. Despite the gains, Mr. Amegbor identified challenges such as inadequate infrastructure and limited workshop equipment.
Mr. Paul Mumba, the Director of Planning and Research of the Zambian Ministry of Labour and leader of the delegation, expressed admiration for the training system at Biriwa Technical Institute. He noted that the team was in Ghana to gain first-hand knowledge of the country's achievements in TVET and observe practical training methods.
The delegation described the visit as a valuable learning experience and reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to strengthen collaboration, share innovations, and work together to equip young people with the skills needed for sustainable growth and national development. Mr. Gideon Mankralo, the National Project Coordinator of the European Union-funded initiative, emphasized that the initiative was facilitating knowledge and experience sharing between Ghana and Zambia to adopt best practices in skills development and tackle youth unemployment.