In today’s world, the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has great capabilities to create many jobs in any country. It also drives the youths of the country towards a sound employment and this makes way for the comprehensive development of that country. In other countries, vocational education is widely accepted by the parents and students alike. But the peoples living in Ghana has a different concept of technical education and vocational training in their mind.
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The scenario of Education and Vocational Training and in Ghana
Since the colonial times, the educational system of Ghana has seen very little changes and development. It is not systematic and requires a lot of changes and development. Modern education and especially a common language like English must be introduced as the medium of instruction.
Since years, Ghana has neglected the vocational and technical training which could have proved to be the potential livelihood of the people of Ghana. But instead, they have focused on their main livelihood which was fishing.
After so many years, vocational training still received less attention, and there is more improvement to be introduced in the vocational training in Ghana. The Ministry of Education has taken steps to implement and develop vocational training in this country.
Though the education system of Ghana is categorized into 3 systems:
- Basic education in schools.
- Secondary education in secondary schools and vocational and technical schools and institutions.
- Advanced degree courses and PG courses colleges, universities and other training institutes.
In order to spread vocational education and technical training in Ghana, the Central Government of Ghana has established two vocational institutions for this purpose. These are:
- Workforce Development Authority (WDA), and
- Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centres (IPRC’s)
Challenges Ghana faced in Vocational Training and Technical Education
- The peoples of Ghana prefers traditional education over vocational courses since they considered vocational trades, not a prestigious job to take over. Most of the parents in Ghana are inclined towards their children taking up the profession of Doctors, Lawyers or Accountants. They don’t even have the mental ability like other countries to let their children pursue vocational career of their choice. Moreover, they also consider that the trades of vocational training like auto mechanics, hairdressing, and carpentry are better off with those youths who come from the lower income group.
- The completion rate of vocational studies in Ghana is very low. If 10 students opt for a particular vocational course, then only 1 is able to complete the course and rest of the students drop out of this course.
- The trainers and instructors are not well- qualified enough to train the students. They are ignorant about the current trends of the industry. A trainer or an instructor at the vocational college must be a professional or an industry practitioner or have knowledge of advanced career courses.
- The vocational training institutes of Ghana also lack adequate and basic infrastructure. Even some of the renowned vocational institutes of Ghana like the Asawansi Technical Institute uses obsolete equipment to train the students. Sometimes due to lack of equipment, the student rely only on theoretical training and are not given the practical training which is very much required in the industries. This is the common problem faced by all the vocational training institutes in Ghana.
- The vocational training institutes of Ghana also faces great financial constraints. The Ministry of Education allocates only 2 % of its budget to the Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector. The companies and manufacturing industries who have direct link with the training institutes could have help them financially.
The motive behind spreading Vocational education in Ghana
- To provide practical, technical, and vocational trade skills to the youths so that they are capable to earn.
- To provide the skilled workforce in various sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality, and business.
- To provide internship training and apprentice programs to the engineers, office workers, instructors and trainers for teaching.
- To improve the standard of technical training and vocational programs.
- To build a sound and stable relationship among the vocational and technical institutes with the companies and industries.
Norms for getting admission to Vocational courses and programs
The students who have completed their basic school education are eligible to take admission at technical institutions. The duration of each course is 3 years. After completing this courses they can further take up other technical courses at Polytechnics, Higher National Diploma courses, or any tertiary institute offering various courses of vocational training.
Vocational Training Schools in Ghana
You can check out the renowned vocational and technical training schools of Ghana in this article. Some of them are:
The National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), Ghana
This vocational and training institutes are established in 1970 and are under NVTI, this vocational institute offers various training programs in form of Centre Training and Apprenticeship training. It offers 28 programs and runs in 38 vocational Centre’s all over the country. NVTI offers training in various trades of Building skills, Dress Making & Tailoring, Catering & Lodging, Automotive technical trainings, Craft skills, Electrical, Printing and other miscellaneous skills like Graphic designing, textile machine operation, General photography, Photographic printing, etc. Moreover, it also offers training in secretarial trades like typist, stenographer, private secretary, etc. It also offers certificate courses in Information and Communications Technology.
Assin Fosu Vocational Training Institute
Established in 1970, around 250 students study at Assin Fosu Vocational Training Institute. The vocational training offered here include carpentry, joinery, block laying, concreting, general electrical, dressmaking, catering, motor vehicle mechanics and information communication technology (ICT).
For admission, you can directly apply at the NVTI website or simply call at +233 24 494 9033.
Accra Girls Vocational Institute
Established in 1973, Accra Girls Vocational Institute is solely private funded. It has been registered and recognized by the Registrar General’s Department, the Ghana Education Service (GES), and the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI). All the courses offered are in the duration of 3-4 years. The courses of vocational trades include automotive, cosmetology, electronics, garment making and welding.
If you want to enroll at Accra Girls Vocational Institute then you can call +233 24 325 0480 and fix up an appointment with the admission representative along with your documents.
Tripstar Institute of Aviation
Tripstar Institute of Aviation provides professional training to the Ghanaians and other African nationals in field of aviation. The courses offered offer at Tripstar provides skills and job expertise which is needed in airline, travel agencies cargo industries, tour industries, cruise lines, hotel & hospitality industry or to manage one’s own travel agency. The courses offered at Tripstar Institute of Aviation are completed within 4-5 months duration. At Tripstar one can study Cargo Rating, Dangerous Goods Regulations, Travel & Tourism courses in 3 levels – foundation, consultant and management and hospitality.
If you are dreaming to become an Air cabin crew, or a travel consultant then you can take admission at Tripstar Institute of Aviation. You can even call 0277061119 / 0242916310 and enroll through the online application form at www.tripstargh.com.
Final words
So, there are limited options of vocational and training institutes in Ghana. It is important to choose the desired job oriented courses in order to land in a secured and well-paying job. Ghana has wide selection of vocational and technical courses in its various colleges and vocational institutes. If you select a good college then you will surely brighten up your career.