In a renewed push to modernise skills training and tackle youth unemployment, Ghana’s Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced plans to establish a dedicated fund to support Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) across the country.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, 3 June, Mr. Iddrisu described the initiative as a strategic move to drive investment into TVET infrastructure and improve the quality of technical education in Ghana. He revealed that a formal proposal will soon be tabled before cabinet for approval.
“In respect of TVET, I am working with cabinet to get approval to establish a Technical and Vocational Education Fund, to spare investment in the education infrastructure,” Mr. Iddrisu said. “This year, in the allocation of the GETFund formula, we provided for some dedicated financing for Technical and Vocational Education.”
TVET plays a critical role in Ghana’s broader education and skills development agenda. It is aimed at equipping young people with practical skills, entrepreneurial capabilities, and industry-relevant knowledge that support both employment and self-employment, particularly in the informal sector.
However, despite government reforms, the sector faces long-standing challenges. These include outdated facilities, a shortage of qualified instructors, and a lingering stigma that TVET is only for academically weak students. There’s also concern over weak ties between training institutions and industry, which limits the real-world applicability of the training.
The proposed fund is expected to address these gaps by ensuring consistent financing for equipment, teacher training, and facility upgrades. It also signals a shift in political will to reposition TVET as a cornerstone of Ghana’s economic transformation.
