Ghana, Singapore launch TVET leadership training for West Africa

Ghana and Singapore have launched a 10-day TVET leadership training programme to strengthen technical and vocational education systems across West Africa.

The workshop, organised under the Singapore–Africa Partnership Leading to Growth and Sustainability (SAPLINGS) Programme, brings together TVET principals, institutional heads, and education leaders from Ghana and other West African countries.

Speaking at the launch, Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, said the programme marked “another important step in Ghana’s deliberate and forward-looking effort to build a modern, responsive, and world-class Technical and Vocational Education and Training system.”

He noted that Ghana’s vision for TVET was centred on developing “a skilled, innovative, and globally competitive workforce capable of driving industrial growth, creating jobs, and responding effectively to the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.”

Dr. Apaak stressed that leadership remained critical to the success of TVET institutions, explaining that investment in institutional heads and administrators was equally important as investment in infrastructure and equipment.

“The success of every TVET institution depends not only on infrastructure and equipment, but also on the quality of the people who lead those institutions,” he stated.

The Deputy Minister said the Government of Ghana partnered with the Government of Singapore through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore to deliver the targeted capacity-building programme.

Experts from Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education (ITE) are facilitating the training, which focuses on institutional governance, policy implementation, quality assurance systems, curriculum delivery, staff development and industry engagement.

Dr. Apaak praised Singapore’s achievements in technical and vocational education, describing the country’s transformation as “one of the world’s most remarkable success stories.”

He added that the programme reflected a shared understanding that skills development was both a national and regional priority.

“Stronger TVET systems across the sub-region will contribute to economic resilience, regional integration, and greater opportunities for our young people,” he said.

The Deputy Minister also reiterated Ghana’s ambition to become “a recognised hub of TVET excellence within West Africa,” saying programmes such as SAPLINGS would help build networks of institutional leaders committed to collaboration and continuous improvement.

He urged participants to actively engage throughout the training and apply lessons learned to improve outcomes within their respective institutions.