Education Minister Calls for More Girls in Technical Training
The Education Minister, Huruna Iddrisu, recently expressed serious concern over the low number of girls enrolling in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs. Despite TVET’s potential to equip young people with practical and job-ready skills, female students remain notably underrepresented in traditionally male-dominated fields.
While TVET fields offer promising career paths in areas like engineering, mechanics, and electronics, girls face persistent cultural and social barriers. Time-consuming gender stereotypes and family expectations often influence their course choices, steering them away from technical options and limiting their exposure to a wider range of vocational skills .
To tackle this challenge, the Minister is calling on TVET institutions and stakeholders to:
- Launch campaigns and community engagements that show TVET is for all students.
- Introduce mentorship and career counseling specifically for young women.
- Set targets to boost female enrollment in STEM and technical programs.
- Provide scholarships and improve facilities with female-friendly design.
These measures echo UNESCO-led efforts that promote gender-equal access to TVET globally . Similar initiatives in other countries, such as Kenya and Uganda, have shown that scholarships and targeted support can significantly raise female participation in vocational training.
By breaking down stereotypes and offering both role models and resources, Ghana hopes to encourage more girls into TVET. The goal is not only gender equity but also building a more skilled and inclusive workforce that can drive economic progress.