Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has stressed that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) must be at the heart of Ghana’s educational reforms if the nation is to achieve sustainable progress.

Speaking at the Ministerial Panel of the Africa Skills for Jobs Policy Academy in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Apaak noted that Ghana’s recent economic stability provides an opportunity to advance reforms that empower private sector participation and create lasting employment opportunities.

“The Ghanaian cedi has become one of the strongest-performing currencies.

This gives us room to be innovative in creating opportunities for private entities to function.

But how can we do this without reforms?

And the reforms must focus on technical and vocational education,” he said.

The Africa Skills for Jobs Policy Academy, taking place from September 30 to October 3, 2025, brings together policymakers, education experts, and private sector leaders to design strategies for strengthening TVET across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The event, organised by the World Bank, the Government of Kenya, and the Inter-University Council for East Africa, is focused on tackling youth unemployment by aligning training with market needs and promoting skills development in priority sectors.

Dr. Apaak revealed that the Ghanaian government had initiated a National Forum on Education to gather nationwide input on how to reposition the education system for development.

“The forum confirmed that investment in TVET is the most effective pathway to equip young people with skills relevant to the job market,” he stated.

He further disclosed that the Minister for Education has been advocating for the government to allocate two percent of Ghana’s oil revenue to finance technical and vocational education, a move aimed at expanding facilities, upgrading equipment, and improving training quality.

Dr. Apaak cautioned against the perception that TVET is reserved for students with weaker academic performance, urging stakeholders to embrace it as a first-choice pathway for learners.

“There is this tendency to believe that only less competent students should pursue TVET.

That mindset must change. Technical and vocational education is an opportunity to provide young people with employable skills by the time they graduate,” he said.

He added that the Mahama administration has already set in motion plans to scale up TVET facilities across the country, positioning technical and vocational education as a cornerstone of Ghana’s broader development agenda.