Botswana: Haruna highlights strides, successes of Ghana’s TVET transformation

Minister for Education, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, today highlighted the significant strides and successes of Ghana’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) transformation at the 2025 TVET Pitso forum in Gabrone, Botswana.

The event, co-hosted by Botswana’s Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) at Ba Isago University, was officially opened by H.E. Mr. Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana.

Minister Iddrisu addressed the forum on the critical role of human capital development in meeting the evolving demands of the modern world of work.

He acknowledged the shared historical challenges many African nations face in TVET, including public perception, limited investment, and difficulties aligning training with industry needs.

“TVET is no longer a path reserved for the less academically inclined or a punishment for non-conformist youth,” Minister Iddrisu stated.

“Today, TVET is the backbone of national development. It is our government’s top priority for industrialization and job creation.”

The Minister detailed Ghana’s robust investment and strategic initiatives aimed at combating youth unemployment and underemployment. Key reforms include the establishment of three new Technical Universities specializing in Digital Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, and Applied Healthcare Sciences, offering diverse programs from short courses to Bachelor of Technology degrees.

Ghana has also undertaken significant reforms to strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and combat negative stereotypes associated with TVET.

These efforts led to the enactment of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act 2020, establishing the Commission for TVET (CTVET) to regulate, promote, and formulate national policies for skills development.

Additionally, Sector Skills Bodies (SSBs) were created to ensure industry-led curriculum development, directly addressing labor market demands.

Further strengthening the sector, the Pre-Tertiary Education Act 2020 established the Ghana TVET Service, overseeing public pre-tertiary TVET institutions with a focus on industry-led, demand-driven, competency-based training. As a direct result of these deliberate policies, Ghana has seen a remarkable increase in TVET enrollment, from approximately 42,000 students in 2018 to over 235,000 in the 2024 academic year.

Hon. Haruna Iddrisu concluded by urging all stakeholders to support Botswana’s HRDC initiative through funding, technical support, and collaborations, emphasizing the importance of promoting gender inclusivity in TVET career choices.