The role of technical and vocational education and training in Ghana (Part iii)
Benefits of tvet cont’d
Through effective and efficient technical and vocational training system, the manpower needs of the country are substantially met. The various national and private technical and vocational institutes strive to churn out graduates to meet the manpower needs of various firms in the industrial sector of the economy.
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The rate of unemployment in the Ghanaian economy is reduced, considerably, through technical and vocational training. Individuals who acquire informal technical and vocational training in auto and refrigerator repairs, electronic repairs, beads making, sewing, hairdressing, to mention a few, often set up their own shops; and enroll new entrants for training. This reduces the number of active labour force that is idle in the economy.
Technical and vocational training contributes positively to national revenue mobilisation through expanded tax net. As more individuals are trained and absorbed into the job market, the number of employees eligible for tax payment increases.
All else held constant, as more people are attracted to tax payment, Government’s total revenue from tax would increase. In turn, successful execution and completion of government-sponsored projects would be enhanced.
Training individuals to be technically and vocationally skilled increases the country’s competitiveness at the global level. Ghana’s ability to train and churn out highly skilled personnel would help meet the manpower needs of the country; and possibly export excess skilled personnel to neighbouring West African countries; and to other countries on the African continent. Currently, advanced and emerging economies such as the United States of America (USA), Germany, India and Brazil boast of engineers with strong professional achievements and reputations. Ghana could emulate the sterling accomplishments of these economies.
Recommendations
In view of the challenges militating against the successful and meaningful contribution of technical and vocational education and training to the Ghanaian economy, the following recommendations are proffered by the writer.
The Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training must develop mechanisms to effectively educate the general public on the importance of technical and vocational education and training in the Ghanaian context; and its significant contribution to national development.
The education would clear erroneous impressions held by a section of Ghanaians about technical and vocational education and training. Intensive education and campaigns by COTVET would improve existing students’ appreciation for the profession; and attract new entrants. Similarly, individuals in the informal sector would be encouraged considerably, if the economic and social benefits of engaging in technical and vocational training are effectively explained to them.
COTVET must take proactive steps to gradually transition artisans in the informal sector to the formal sector. Stated differently, COTVET should liaise with master artisans in the informal sector; identify trained artisans with academic potentials; and make the necessary arrangement for them to acquire formal education in addition to the training in their specialised fields. This would ease their mode of interaction with clients; through formal education, trained artisans’ mode of transacting business with their clients is likely to improve considerably.
Presently, the National Vocational Training Institute has some arrangements that allow artisans trained in the informal sector to enroll and earn a certificate in their specialised fields. COTVET could complement the efforts of the NVTI by introducing similar programmes in other institutions, both public and private.
COTVET must ensure the activities of artisans in the informal sector are effectively co-ordinated under its umbrella; the collaboration between the formal and informal sectors must be strong to accelerate development and growth of TVET in the country.
Pupils at the pre-Junior High School (JHS) level must be educated on the importance of technical and vocational training. Information on available career opportunities should be disclosed to pre-JHS pupils to whip up their enthusiasm; and adequately condition them to embrace the TVET concept at the JHS level and beyond. The success stories of some citizens whose imminence is predicated on technical and vocational education and training could be made known to the pupils.
The minds of trainees in the formal and informal sectors must be psychologically conditioned to prepare adequately for the challenges associated with TVET at all levels. There is no gain-saying successful technical and vocational education and training involve tactfulness, thoughtfulness, concentration, and commitment, among others, on the part of the learner or trainee.
Due to the foregoing qualities, some individuals opine TVET is very difficult. To resolve this debilitating issue, COTVET, in collaboration with the various technical and vocational institutions, could organise seminars for technical and vocational students and trainees across the country.
COTVET must be adequately resourced, financially, by the Ministry of Education through the Ghana Education Service to enable it provide all the needed support (equipment and expertise) to the various technical and vocational institutions in the country.
Evidently, an institution that lacks the basic implements required to ensure the realisation of set objectives may have a daunting task on hand; realisation of set objectives may be a mirage. To avert a lack-luster performance by COTVET, the Government, through the sector ministry, must strive to meet the financial and other significant needs of the former.
The 21st century is characterised by advanced technological standards. Use of sophisticated technical and vocational tools is the order of the day. To this end, training of individuals in TVET should be based on scientific approach; modern equipment must be acquired to replace dilapidated and obsolete ones used as a medium of practical instruction.
Continuous development of the technical and vocational education and training sector is very paramount. As a result, there is a clarion call on industries, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and alumni of various technical and vocational education and training institutions who are indirect and direct beneficiaries of TVET to contribute their modest quota to its development.
As stated earlier, some students enrolled in vocational institutions in the country do not take examinations in English and mathematics. This affects their ability to be admitted directly into tertiary institutions. For instance, to enroll at the polytechnic level, a vocational school graduate would have to take the advanced course, Stroke Two, to qualify.
Some students described the current academic arrangement as worrying and disenchanting. To ensure direct entry into tertiary institutions (polytechnics, technical universities, and non-technical universities) by students, this writer recommends a review of the curricula of technical and vocational institutions, including NVTI to include English and mathematics in the programme; and in the final examinations.
Availability of jobs in the “non-technical” sector of the Ghanaian economy is either non-existent or very scarce. However, the reverse is true in the case of the TVET sector. This presents the Government with an opportunity to encourage more individuals into technical and vocational education and training to equitably distribute the nation’s human capital among the various sectors.
This would ensure efficiency, and by extension, ensure increased productivity. Equitable distribution of the nation’s human capital would minimise (if not eliminate) redundancy and over-concentration of human capital in a particular area of the economy.
The Government should actively engage industries and graduates to ensure the effective absorption of the latter into the job market. Ghana is very good at policy formulation, but poor at implementation. This unfortunate trend must change.