UNICEF, Govt study uncovers skills mismatch in TVET sector

 A NEW study by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Ghana in part­nership with the Government of Ghana has uncovered a significant mismatch between the skills taught in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and those required by employ­ers.

Conducted in the Ashanti Region, the research assessed public and private TVET schools and compared their training programmes with the demands of industries such as agriculture, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), manufacturing, and construction.

The findings revealed that while some trades were over­supplied, critical sectors face severe shortages.

In agriculture, the region’s dominant sector, only one out of 57 pre-tertiary TVET institutions offers relevant training, despite high demand for agro-processing skills.

ICT, a fast-growing field, is offered in just four schools. By contrast, fashion design and garment-making dominate curricula, creating an over­supply of graduates, while areas like green technology and advanced Information Technology (IT) remain under­represented.

The study also found a ‘perception gap’ between employers and graduates.

Employers complained of weak practical exposure and poor soft skills, while many graduates felt they were ade­quately prepared for work.

Free TVET education has boosted enrollment, but lim­ited facilities and equipment were overstretching schools and undermining Competen­cy-Based Training (CBT).

Private institutions record­ed higher CBT accreditation than public ones, though both struggle with resources.

According to the research, employers also reported difficulties finding job-ready candidates with practical experience.

UNICEF’s Education Spe­cialist, Dr Tillman Guenther, noted that Ghana’s youthful population offers a potential demographic dividend that could drive economic growth.

However, this opportunity is threatened by unemploy­ment and job insecurity.

“Increasing investment in TVET and tailoring training to market demands are critical if Ghana is to equip its young people with the skills needed for meaningful employment,” Dr Guenther said.

He called for collective action by government, private sector, and development part­ners to ensure TVET becomes a true driver of sustainable growth.

 By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu