Africa Skills Week to spur policy change in technical and vocational education

The much-anticipated Africa Skills Week 2024 set to take place in Accra, Ghana, is poised to drive transformative policy changes in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) across the continent.

The event, co-organized by the African Union and the Ghanaian Ministry of Education, aims to align skills training with labor market needs, bridging the gap between education and employment in Africa.

Speaking at the press launch in Accra, the Director-General of Ghana’s Commission for TVET (CTVET), Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, underscored the importance of this event, not only as a prestigious opportunity for Ghana to host, but also as a critical platform for advancing TVET policy reform across Africa.

He emphasized that the event would bring together stakeholders from education, government, and industry to push for new policies prioritizing skills development.

“Hosting this international event in Ghana is not just a privilege for us as a country but a clear testament to our country’s growing leadership in the field of technical and vocational education and training across the African continent,” Dr. Asamoah remarked.

One of the central goals of Africa Skills Week is to foster collaboration between TVET institutions and industries to ensure that skills training is more aligned with market demands.

Dr. Asamoah pointed out that aligning education with labor market intelligence is crucial to reducing the high levels of youth unemployment across the continent.

“Africa Skills Week will provide a platform for the TVET institutions to connect and collaborate with industries. This will help align skill training to market needs and ensure that graduates are better informed of the jobs available to them,” he said.

The event will also feature a Youth Pavilion, where employers and job seekers will meet directly, offering recruitment opportunities for young Africans. This initiative highlights the practical outcomes expected from the event, with Dr. Asamoah affirming that it will be more than just a series of discussions.

“Africa Skills Week will serve as a platform where employers, skilled professionals, and job seekers will meet to create direct recruitment opportunities for the youth, especially during the Youth Pavilion,” he added.

A recurring theme in the lead-up to the event is the emphasis on policy advocacy. Africa Skills Week is expected to push for concrete policy reforms that will address the challenges of underinvestment in skills development across many African countries.

Dr. Asamoah criticized the tendency of governments to prioritize traditional academic education over vocational training, noting, “Many times we know African countries invest more in grammar education at the detriment of skill development. Every country needs skills to be able to transform.”

In alignment with the African Union’s 2024 theme of educational transformation, the event will focus on equipping the continent’s youth with the skills needed for the 21st-century economy.

This theme, titled “Skills and Jobs for the 21st Century: Quality Skill Development for Sustainable Employability in Africa,” places TVET at the forefront of the continent’s economic development strategy. The event will also address the pressing need to invest in science, technology, and innovation as drivers of skills development and job creation.

The outcomes of Africa Skills Week are expected to include policy recommendations aimed at strengthening the skills development ecosystem across the continent. Stakeholders are anticipated to make commitments toward implementing agreed-upon solutions that will support skill development, job creation, and economic growth.

This maiden event will bring together representatives from several African Union member states, international organizations such as UNESCO and the International Labour Organization (ILO), and delegations from across Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. Dr. Asamoah hailed the event as a testament to Ghana’s leadership in TVET, with significant global interest in the country’s education system.

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