Accra’s bilateral ties with Rome are continuing to yield significant gains in technical and vocational education, helping bridge the gap between classroom training and industry requirements.
Highlighting the importance of international collaboration, Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, noted that Ghana’s relationship with Italy remains pivotal in bolstering the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) framework. He explained that skills acquisition must align directly with modern employment trends to make young people job-ready in a fast-evolving marketplace.
Addressing stakeholders on Friday, October 9, during the official opening of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) office in Accra, Dr Apaak reaffirmed that the true test of technical training lies in graduate employability and its impact on national development.
“Government’s commitment to strengthening TVET as a driver of economic development is not a line in a policy document.
“It is a test: whether the young people who pass through our technical institutions leave with skills that match what the labour market needs. That is the standard we hold ourselves to, and it is the standard partnerships like ours with Italy help us meet,” he said.
Dr Apaak commended ongoing joint projects—such as RISE-G, INSPIRE, and SEE—for their role in upskilling educators, enhancing TVET systems, and widening job prospects for the youth.
He urged the newly inaugurated Italian agency and other development partners to scale up their engagement with the Ministry of Education, advocating for expanded initiatives and fresh avenues of collaboration to ensure education translates into tangible opportunities.
“Ultimately, whether through vocational training, higher education or innovation, our common goal is the same: investing in Ghana’s human capital and creating opportunities for the next generation,” he said.
The opening of the AICS office in Accra marks a major step forward in Ghana-Italy relations, creating a direct pathway to deepen cooperation in youth empowerment, skills development, and human capital growth.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
