“TVET is no longer the fallback option it was once considered to be. It is now the pathway to opportunity and it must be positioned as such,” he said.

Dr Adutwum made the call at the closing ceremony of the five-day Africa Skills Week in Accra which closed last Friday.

It was held on the theme: “Skills and Jobs for the 21st Century: Quality Skills Development for Sustainable Employability in Africa".

Initiative

The five-day programme was attended by stakeholders in education from the African continent.

Guests at the Africa Skills Week

The Africa Skills Week 2024, the maiden edition, was organised by the African Union (AU) and hosted by the government of Ghana.

It aimed to accelerate action towards improving systems, processes and policies to drive the transformation of skills development across the continent.

The AU also aims to institutionalise the skills week as part of a broader effort in the implementation of its Agenda 2063 blueprint to build resilient, transformative education and skills ecosystems across Africa.

Dr Adutwum told participants that in Ghana, “our Free TVET policy and the adoption of Competency-Based Training (CBT) have set the stage for this transformation”.

“These efforts are part of a broader strategy to ensure that our youth have the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world,” he said.

The minister stressed that the conference enabled participants to learn from one another about how African nations were pioneering new approaches to skills development.

“We must also recognise the challenges that remain, chief among them, the need for scalable solutions.

“Our task is to turn these conversations into action, ensuring that our policies are not just words on paper, but are felt by every young African seeking a brighter future,” the minister charged the delegates.

He said the conference reminded participants that no single country or organisation could address the challenges confronting the country alone.Role of private sector 

Dr Adutwum said the partnerships forged among governments, private sector stakeholders, international organisations and educational institutions over the five-day conference were essential to the collective success of the continent.

He said he was encouraged by the role the private sector was playing in aligning TVET curricula with the demands of industry.

“This connection between education and employment is key to ensuring that our young people have the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow,” he stressed.

Transformative journey

The Director-General of the Commission for TVET, Dr Fred Kyei Asamoah, who spoke on the country's transformative journey in TVET education, outlined key policy reforms spearheaded by the government, most notably the introduction of Free TVET, a flagship initiative of the current administration.

"Free TVET has removed financial barriers and has made technical education accessible to all.

"This is not just about making education affordable; it’s about positioning TVET as an attractive, first-choice option for young people looking to gain relevant skills for the modern job market," Dr Asamoah stressed.

He emphasised Ghana's pivotal role in advancing technical and vocational education on the continent.

Speaking on the theme: “Boosting Excellence and Innovation in TVET: Interregional Policy Dialogue and Global Agenda Setting”, Dr Asamoah underscored the importance of international cooperation, stressing that inter-regional partnerships were essential in addressing common challenges such as youth unemployment, skills shortages and the need for continuous upskilling.