Mr Asare said this during the Young People’s Forum on the National Apprenticeship Programme, organised by Africa Education Watch and supported by Oxfam.
He said the prevailing deficiencies underscored a critical gap between current training models and the demands of the future workforce.

“This means that many graduates, despite acquiring valuable artisan skills, lack the crucial knowledge to effectively market their services and secure better earning opportunities in a digitally driven economy,” he said.

However, Mr Asare said a staggering 80 per cent of TVET students currently enrolled in digital programmes were not being adequately equipped with essential ICT skills.
He said the training often lacked depth in digital competencies, failing to prepare students for the competitive job market.

“Only one per cent of TVET students are aware of AI, with a vast majority of 90 per cent having received no instruction or training in this rapidly evolving field,” he said.

Without mainstreaming AI and robotics technology into TVET curricula, graduates would be ill-prepared for the future of work, which increasingly relies on those advanced digital skills.

Mr Asare urged stakeholders to prioritise the integration of digital skidlls across all TVET programmes

He emphasised that while traditional skills were important, their application and marketability in the modern world were heavily dependent on digital literacy.
He advocated training models, which were not only climate-responsive but also data science compliant, as well as the incorporation of cutting-edge technologies like AI and robotics to ensure the relevance and competitiveness of graduates for the job market.