Accra: Mr. Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, has described Ghana's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) financing system as structurally misaligned, warning that chronic underfunding is undermining efforts to equip young people with employable skills.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Asare emphasized that despite increased enrolment and ongoing reforms in the sector, the current financing model was failing to support equitable access, quality training, and the development of industry-relevant skills needed for national development. He made these remarks during his presentation on 'Financing the Future: Aligning TVET Financing with Equitable Access, Quality and Human-Centred Skills in Ghana' at an International Conference on Education and Humanities organized by the Faculty of Education and Communication Sciences of the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (USTED).
Mr. Asare noted that although Ghana had recorded significant economic growth over the years, this growth had not translated into adequate job creation, particularly for young people. The country's growth pattern has been driven largely by the services and extractive sectors, which created fewer employment opportunities compared to manufacturing and other labor-intensive industries.
He observed that TVET enrolment had increased substantially over the past decade, but the sector remained unable to meet the demands of Ghana's growing youth population due to inadequate infrastructure and limited institutional capacity. Gender disparities in enrolment were also highlighted, with male students accounting for more than 73 per cent of TVET enrolment, suggesting barriers that continued to hinder female participation.
The Executive Director expressed concern over the low share of national education expenditure allocated to TVET, noting that the sector received considerably less funding than comparable programs in several African countries. He cited practical training as one of the most affected areas, explaining that the annual allocation for practical materials per student stood at about GHS33, while the actual cost of training ranged between GHS4,000 and GHS9,000 depending on the trade area. This has created a financing gap of approximately 94 per cent, forcing institutions to scale down practical sessions and compromising the quality of training offered to students.
Mr. Asare said the funding deficit was also contributing to a mismatch between the skills acquired by graduates and the needs of industry. Quoting findings from employer surveys, he noted that 80 per cent of employers identified inadequate practical training as their biggest concern regarding TVET graduates, while 70 per cent cited deficiencies in soft skills. Additionally, 40 per cent pointed to a mismatch between graduates' skills and labor market demands, while 30 per cent raised concerns about outdated technological knowledge and limited exposure to current industry trends.
He stressed that addressing these challenges would require increased investment in TVET, stronger partnerships between training institutions and industry, and financing reforms that prioritized quality training outcomes. Mr. Asare called on policymakers, development partners, and industry stakeholders to work together to create a financing framework that would support equitable access to TVET, improve training quality, and equip learners with the competencies required for the future world of work. He emphasized that investing in TVET was critical to unlocking Ghana's demographic dividend and ensuring sustainable economic transformation.