EU, GIZ fund informal sector apprenticeship
The European Union (EU) in collaboration with the German development agency (GIZ) has signed a €10.77 million fund to support technical education and training in Ghana.
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This is to support the Ghana Skills Development Initiative (GSDI) which is a Ghana German collaboration that is already on-going.
The move is to help improve apprenticeship systems in the informal sector in five key areas; auto mechanics, electronics, garments, welding and cosmetology.
The agreement forms part of the third phase of the Ghana Skills Development Initiative (GSDI) assistance by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Competency-based training
The EU Ambassador to Ghana, Mr William Hanna, signed on behalf of the EU, while Mr Christoph Retzlaff, the German Ambassador to Ghana, signed on behalf of the GIZ, with the Executive Director of COTVET, Dr Fred Kyei Asamoah, signing on behalf of the institution.
Mr Hanna said the fund would help to improve competency-based training in Ghana which would be industry-led.
He said the fund formed part of the EU’s contributions and efforts at strengthening the development of the private sector to transform the lives of the people.
"Today is the beginning of a new partnership between Ghana and the EU in the area of skills development; by working together, we are developing the youth of Ghana,” he said.
Mr Hanna noted that the youth had enormous potential to sustain the economy of every country, hence the urgent need to develop their skills for the benefit of the country.
For his part, Mr Retzlaff said the GIZ was pleased to partner the EU to fund initiatives to improve Ghana's informal sector.
Timely funding
Dr Asamoah said: “German Development Cooperation has been providing support to the TVET sector over the last five years. Since 2012, a total of 16 training providers and 10 trade associations cooperated in the implementation of the cooperative apprenticeship training for 232 apprentices and 232 Master Crafts Persons in 3 regions and in 5 trade areas in Ghana."
"In March 2016, 188 apprentices were certified on the National TVET Qualifications Framework and successfully achieved in their assessments and received a nationally recognized National Proficiency I certificate. The National TVET Qualifications Framework is the standardized structure for the award of certificates in the TVET sector."
"We are working together to ensure the successful roll-out of the developed approach with the Ghana TVET Voucher Programme funded by the German development bank, KfW, to reach thousands of Master Crafts Persons and apprentices in the informal sector. This would lead to skills upgrade for our youth and subsequently enhance their livelihoods,” he added.