For decades, Ghana’s education sector has suffered heavy criticism for being too theoretical, with many lamenting the lack of practical skills development among graduates. But in recent years, a quiet revolution has been taking place—one that many have not fully noticed until social media began amplifying it.
Over the past few weeks, social media has been awashed with videos of fashion exhibitions in senior high and TVET schools. From dazzling designs to innovative concepts, students are showcasing talents that challenge the old perception that our schools are all about theory. Some of these exhibitions have even caught mainstream attention with Onua TV’s Captain Smart offering to sponsor a promising student whose design went viral.
And it does not stop at fashion. Across food technology, plumbing, building construction and more, students are bringing practicality to life. These developments are not accidental; they are the results of deliberate government policies to revamp Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
In 2020, Parliament passed Act 1023 to establish the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET). The commission was tasked with regulating, promoting and administering TVET across the country. Since its establishment, CTVET has rolled out initiatives such as the formation of TVET clubs in schools and celebrity-led campaigns. Personalities like Okyeame Kwame and Berla Mundi have visited schools—including my own, Ogbojo Presbyterian Basic School—to inspire students to explore TVET as a viable pathway.
Next month, CTVET will launch a community and schools sensitization project in Greater Accra, to be replicated nationwide. This initiative seeks to improve public perceptions of TVET, increase awareness and encourage young people to consider skills training as a rewarding career choice.
Another milestone came with the creation of the Ghana TVET Service through the Pre-Tertiary Education Act 2020 (Act 1049). By making TVET autonomous from the Ghana Education Service, the government has ensured focused attention on skills development at the pre-tertiary level.
Since then, TVET has seen significant expansion. Some private schools, including OIC (East Legon), Applied Technology Institute (East Legon) and Madina Technical Institute, have been absorbed into the free SHS system. Existing schools like Abetifi Technical Institute have also benefitted from modern equipment and improved infrastructure.
What sets TVET apart from traditional senior high schools is its emphasis on practical training. Students are required to spend their vacations on industrial attachments in organizations related to their field of study, allowing them to gain real-world experience before graduation. As a teacher, I have witnessed firsthand how this system equips students for the job market. Just recently, I met one of my former students who secured employment at AH Hotel, East Legon—where he had completed his attachment.
As a Basic Design and Technology (now Career Technology) teacher and someone who is deeply passionate about TVET, I am proud that over half of my students choose the TVET pathway. Many now have jobs, while others are pursuing higher education in technical and vocational fields.
That said, there is still more work to be done. Teachers urgently need modern technology and teaching aids to fully equip students with relevant skills for the 21st-century job market. Additionally, I call on the Commission for TVET and the Ghana TVET Service to jointly publish a comprehensive brochure detailing TVET programmes and their elective subject combinations—similar to what the Ghana Education Service provides for senior high schools. Such a guide would help basic school students and parents make informed choices about their educational future.
Indeed, TVET is no longer the neglected cousin of general education—it is becoming a game-changer for Ghana’s development. All that remains is to sustain the momentum.
Chief Iddi-Amin Fredouse
Ghana Teacher Prize, 2023 Second Runner Up
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