Emphasis on Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to accelerate Africa’s growth

It is widely accepted that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), has the great potential of accelerating any country's drive towards development.

Typically, there are two pathways for an individual to take, in pursuing a career in TVET. One is to gain admission to a Technical or Vocational Institution or to undertake an apprenticeship with a master craftsperson in ones chosen field. Countries like Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore collectively known as the Asian Tigers have successfully adopted sound policies in the technical and vocational training sector, which have resulted in the emergence of a highly skilled workforce.China has been able to create a new “united states” within thirty years. It achieved that feat through technical/vocational education.

A good technical or vocational education, benefits the individual by giving him or her an opportunity to earn a decent wage, and live a dignified life. It also benefits the family by raising its status in society, and ultimately benefits the nation by reducing unemployment and increasing the tax base.

Technical and vocational skills development helps to strengthen the local workforce in emerging economies. A skilled workforce also creates an attractive economic environment for investors.

As per the 2015 State of Education Report published by The Africa - America Institute, Technical and vocational education and training has not been a top priority for many African countries.

• In 2012, technical and vocational programs accounted for only 6 percent of total secondary enrollment in the region, a slight drop from 7 percent in 1999.
• TVET programs markedly declined in the 1980s due to budgetary shortfalls in the education sector of many African countries and have never fully recovered. On average, only about 2 to 6 percent of educational budgets are devoted to technical and vocational skills development.
• Companies operating in African repeatedly cite insufficiently skilled labor as a bottleneck to growth. By improving the knowledge and skills of workers through technical and vocational education and training, local economies can build a skilled workforce to increase the production of goods and services and contribute to economic growth.

The report further suggests that Some 11 million youth are expected to enter Africa’s labor market every year for the next decade, according to the World Bank. Job creation in Africa is largely in the informal economy, which also absorbs those who are unable to find employment in the formal sector. Due to sky high unemployment rates, many graduates with a secondary and tertiary education are now becoming self-employed and launching small- and medium-sized enterprises instead of opting for wage employment.

While technical and vocational education and training builds a strong skilled workforce, the training does not create jobs. The majority of people in African countries—nearly 80 percent—work in the informal sector, according to the World Bank. An estimated 40 million more youth are projected to drop out of school in the next decade. Lacking adequate work and life skills, many will face an uncertain future. Governments and private sector alike must develop workforce development and training programs that recognize that most youth will be self-employed or work for a small enterprise.

Excerpt from various reports published on websites below:

http://citifmonline.com/2016/08/24/boosting-or-sinking-technicalvocational-education-with-conversions-article/#sthash.J788f1v5.dpuf

http://www.cotvet.org/new/our-blog1.php?i=challenges-of-vocational-training-in-ghana
http://www.aaionline.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/AAI-SOE-report-2015-final.pdf