TVET and Youth Employment in Ghana: Lessons from the Asian Tigers’ success

The streets of Ghana echoes with entrepreneurial spirit, yet beneath the surface, an obstinate challenge appears: unemployment. Particularly among the youth, there is a disconnection between academic qualifications and the practical skills demanded by the job market.

This canker continues to create a significant impediment to national development. But what if Ghana could unlock a proven pathway to prosperity, resonating the transformational journeys of economic giants often known as the "Asian Tigers"?

The significant rise of, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan from developing nations to global economic giants in the latter half of the 20th century offers a compelling blueprint for the Ghanaian government to emulate to help change the narrative of youth unemployment in the country.

While Asian Tigers historical context differs, a basic principle underpinned their success: a very strategic and unwavering commitment to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). For Ghana, embracing and empowering its TVET sector is not merely an option; it’s vital for sustainable growth and a vibrant, employed population.

Ghana's Unemployment problem: A Skills Mismatch

Ghana faces a major unemployment challenge, particularly among its youth and graduates, largely due to a mismatch between the skills acquired by the traditional academic education system and the demands of the job market. Ghana, a nation blessed with abundant natural resources and a youthful population, faces a significant unemployment challenge.

Recent data from the Ghana Statistical Service highlights a critical issue: about 14.8 percent of the youth are unemployed and a substantial number of graduates, particularly those from tertiary institutions, possess academic knowledge but lack the practical skills demanded by the job market.

Youth aged 15 to 35 constitute a major portion of the unemployed, underscoring a pressing need for a paradigm shift in education and workforce development.

The traditional Ghanaian education system has, for too long, emphasized academic qualifications over practical skills, leading to a disconnect between what is taught and what industries truly require.

This mismatch leaves many graduates struggling to secure employment, contributing to social frustration and economic stagnation. The "Asian Tigers" model highlights how TVET can be a crucial tool in addressing this challenge.

TVET: The Catalyst for Ghana's Economic Transformation

This is where the lessons from the "Asian Tigers" become profoundly relevant. By strategically prioritizing and revamping its TVET sector, Ghana can address its unemployment crisis and propel itself towards sustainable industrialization and economic growth.

Firstly, from construction and manufacturing to technology and agro-processing – are starved for skilled labor. A strong TVET system can directly address this by producing graduates equipped with the practical, hands-on skills these industries desperately need. This directly combats the issue of "unemployable graduates."

Secondly, Fueling Industrialization Drive, for instance "One District, One Factory". Just as the "Asian Tigers" built their economies on industrial might, Ghana's ambitious industrialization agenda, including initiatives like the "One District, One Factory" (1D1F) policy by the else while NPP government, hinges on the availability of a skilled workforce.

TVET graduates – the welders, electricians, plumbers, machinery operators, and IT specialists – are the backbone of any thriving industrial sector. Without them, factories remain understaffed and production targets unmet.

Furthermore, beyond direct employment, VET has immense potential to foster entrepreneurship and self-employment. By equipping individuals with practical skills in various trades, TVET empowers them to become job creators rather than just job seekers.

A TVET graduate trained in carpentry, fashion design, or auto mechanics can start their own business, stimulating the growth of local economies and reducing reliance on a limited formal job market.

This reflects the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that emerged in the diversifying economies of the "Asian Tigers."

The "Asian Tigers" Blueprint: A Skills-Driven Revolution

The "Asian Tigers" didn't achieve their economic visions by chance. Their governments planned and executed strategies that recognized human capital as the most valuable resource.

Key lessons from their playbook, highly relevant for Ghana, include:

First and formost,export-oriented industrialization. These nations tactically shifted from agrarian economies to manufacturing powerhouses, producing goods for global markets. This created an unquenchable demand for a skilled workforce.

Secondly, education, especially technical and vocational training, was given national priority. They spent resources into building robust Technical and TVET institutions, ensuring curricula were aligned with industrial needs.

This wasn't about just getting a certificate; it was about acquiring immediately employable skills Moreso, governments played an active role in directing economic development, fostering key industries, and ensuring a steady supply of skilled labor. Policies were designed to incentivize both industry and education to work hand-in-hand.

Furthermore, a hallmark of their success was the symbiotic relationship between schools and industries. Curricula were co-developed, apprenticeships were widespread, and graduates seamlessly transitioned into the workforce, often with pre-arranged employment.

Finally, emphasis was on practical, hands-on skills and competency-based training (CBT), ensuring graduates possessed the exact abilities needed on factory floors, construction sites, and in emerging technology sectors.

It should emphasize that a well-trained TVET workforce is a magnet for foreign direct investment. Just as the "Asian Tigers" attracted global businesses due to their skilled labor, Ghana can position itself as a hub for technical expertise in West Africa, enhancing its competitiveness on the global stage. Graduates who meet international labor standards are a valuable asset in a globalized economy.

Recommendations

Ghana needs a concerted national effort, coupled with showcasing the tangible successes of TVET graduates, to re-brand vocational education as a pathway to rewarding careers, innovation, and economic independence.

The government's recent efforts to streamline TVET governance under the Ministry of Education are positive steps towards this goal. The journey to transforming Ghana's unemployment landscape through TVET will require sustained commitment and strategic investment. It demands:

Significant allocation of resources to modernize TVET infrastructure, equip workshops with state-of-the-art machinery, and train a new generation of highly skilled TVET instructors. This is evident in the else while NPP government focus on building STEM Schools in each of the 16 regions of Ghana .

Secondly, Establishing robust mechanisms to ensure consistent quality and standards across all TVET institutions, both public and private. Also, a streamlined and coordinated TVET sector, free from fragmented oversight, to ensure efficiency and a unified national vision.

Again, there is the urgent need for aggressive campaigns to shift societal perceptions and highlight the immense value and opportunities within technical and vocational careers.

In Conclusion ,Ghana's potential is undeniable. Learning from the experience of "Asian Tigers" and embracing TVET as a cornerstone of its development strategy, the nation can empower its youth, bridge the skills gap, drive industrialization, and ultimately, unlock its full economic promise. The time for Ghana to roar its own economic success story, powered by a skilled and productive workforce, is now.