She has also asked them to encourage their children, especially the girl-child, to go into TVET because not only would it be beneficial to them, but then it could help change the fortunes of the country.

Mrs Awity, who said this in a message to mark this year’s International Women’s Day, was hopeful that women could succeed when they went into TVET.

She said the theme "Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow," selected for the commemoration of this year’s IWD could not have been more appropriate as it sits well with the need to encourage more females to venture into technical and vocational training.

“TVET provides a great opportunity for the acquisition and updating of job skills and the reduction of unemployment needed to sustain development for the future.

“As a nation, we should take advantage of TVET to promote the retraining of women, as it will help improve their qualification and thus diminish the existing gender gap on the job market as currently exists.

Touching on the advantages of TVET, Mrs Awity said it is the driver of every developmental agenda and that, it was what has helped developed the economies of the developed countries.

“Go to Germany and all those places, it is TVET that has made them who they are because everything is TVET - they are able to eat what they grow and patronise what they make. For this country to develop, we should start producing things ourselves and only TVET can drive that agenda,” she noted.

She said Ghana was seen as a shining star of Africa and if that was so then it should be patronizing its own things, especially when it was blessed with rich natural resources.

Breaking the bias
Mrs Awity said with the level of advancement and the impact of women in driving development, there was also the need to encourage those who show potential to go all the way to be leaders, backing her assertion with the popular saying that educating a woman meant education an entire nation.

“When you put women in leadership, they are able to do well. Women are great movers, they are very innovative and creative. When you give a woman something small they are able to expand it. They are able to get results. They are team players and goal getters,” she explained.

Unfortunately, she said, looking at the various trades in the country, more men were into TVET as compared to women.

She attributed that to the lack of more female role models for young females to look up to and said it was time for the women who were making great strides in that field to be seen and heard.

“As women in TVET, we should be at the forefront as mentors, educators, and role models in demystifying STEM-related subjects in TVET as 'no go' areas for girls. It is time to tackle this issue with all hands on deck!

“That is the way we can help to break the bias and ensure that the next generation see it as a career choice too,” Mrs Awity, the first female to be appointed the Director General of the TVET Service, emphasised.