Ghana and Kenya expand vocational training to bridge industry skills gaps

African nations are implementing new strategies to bridge the gap between vocational education and industry requirements.

In Ghana, the Ghana TVET Service (GTVETS) and the Design & Technology Institute (DTI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Accra to align vocational training with employer demands. The partnership focuses on eight areas, including apprenticeship systems, digital transformation, and teacher capacity building. GTVETS Director-General Professor Ernest Kofi Davis Adzroe noted that many graduates struggle to find work because their training lacks the practical skills sought by employers.

In Kenya, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) enrollment has increased by approximately 64% between the 2022-2023 and 2024-2025 academic years. The government is emphasizing a dual training model that combines classroom instruction with practical company experience. Supported by international partners including Germany, Finland, and South Korea, the initiative involves over 2,500 companies and has benefited more than 15,000 young people through formalized dual training policies.