After identifying that many districts in the Ashanti Region still lack formal, accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, UNICEF is pushing for the establishment of skills training hubs in every district.
The UNICEF report, which assesses the demand and supply of skilled labour in the Ashanti Region, uncovered that the absence of such training centres is leaving thousands of young people without structured pathways into skilled work.
Based on the findings, UNICEF is not only urging the government to establish just accredited TVET centres in every district, rather the centres must be tailored not only to population size but also to the economic heartbeat of each area.
This means a farming district should not train more fashion designers than tractor mechanics, and an emerging digital hub should not churn out carpenters while coding jobs remain empty.
‘Establish TVET institutions in districts without formal, accredited TIs, considering the population size and economic needs of these areas,” portions of the report cited by The High Street Journal recommended.
Free TVET Needs More Than Just Access
Although the government’s Free TVET policy has opened doors for many students, UNICEF warns that access without infrastructure is only half the battle. Classrooms remain overcrowded, workshops under-equipped, and entire districts are left with no accredited centres at all.
Without significant investment in upgrading existing facilities and building new ones, the Free TVET vision risks becoming a hollow promise.
“While the Free TVET Policy has expanded access, significant investment is required to upgrade the infrastructure of existing institutions and establish new TVET centres in areas lacking formal institutions,” it indicated.
TVET as a Local Economic Engine
The logic behind district-based TVET is hard to ignore. When young people can train in skills that reflect their local economy, they are far more likely to find work, set up businesses, and boost local productivity.
For instance, an agriculture-based district could specialize in agro-processing and mechanization, while mining zones could focus on geology and heavy machinery.
Urban centres, on the other hand, might pivot to ICT, logistics, and creative industries. Such an arrangement, while boosting local economies, will also improve the standard of living of residents.
The Bottomline
Many analysts now agree that TVET is no longer a “second choice” pathway. In a world where practical skills power everything from construction and healthcare to software engineering and renewable energy, Ghana’s ability to industrialize and create jobs depends on how well it invests in TVET.
UNICEF’s call for district-tailored institutions offers a roadmap not just for educational reform but for rebalancing Ghana’s economy from the ground up.
