Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has urged African leaders to break away from the long-standing perception that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is meant only for students with weak academic performance.

Speaking at the Africa Skills for Jobs Policy Academy in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Apaak emphasised that TVET must be recognised as a first-choice option for learners rather than a fallback pathway.

“There is this tendency to believe that technical and vocational education is for students who are less competent academically.

We have a concerted plan of action to change this mindset. Vocational and technical education cannot be a second option — it must be a first option,” he stressed.

The Africa Skills for Jobs Policy Academy, running from September 30 to October 3, 2025, brings together policymakers, experts, and private sector players from across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Organised by the World Bank in partnership with the Government of Kenya and the Inter-University Council for East Africa, the academy seeks to tackle youth unemployment by aligning training with labour market needs and promoting upskilling in priority sectors.

Dr. Apaak revealed that the government is expanding access to technical institutions nationwide to enroll more students in skill-based education.

“Out of about 900 second-cycle institutions in Ghana, fewer than 300 are technical and vocational schools.

We are deliberately scaling this up to widen access,” he noted.

He further highlighted the government’s National Apprenticeship Programme, an initiative designed to support the estimated 1.5 million Ghanaian youth who are neither in school nor enrolled in any training programme.

“This programme provides competency-based training to certify and equip young people with employable skills, preparing them for deployment into the workforce,” Dr. Apaak explained.

Since January, the Mahama administration has positioned TVET as a cornerstone of Ghana’s education reforms and broader development strategy.

The Ministry of Education has rolled out policies and funding commitments to modernise technical institutions, upgrade training facilities, and retrain instructors.

Dr. Apaak underscored that reshaping perceptions and scaling up investment in TVET will not only help reduce unemployment but also build a skilled workforce to drive Africa’s industrialisation and economic transformation.