MANDATE

The Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) was established by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act, 2006 (Act 718) of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana in August, 2006 to formulate national policies on skills development across pre tertiary and tertiary levels of education, in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

COTVET is also to coordinate, harmonize and supervise the activities of Pre-Tertiary public and private Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) providers including apprenticeship in the Informal Sector, and collaborate with the Tertiary institutions.

The Council further takes measures to ensure quality in delivery of and equity in access to technical and vocational education and training- promotes co-operation with international agencies and development partners and facilitate collaboration between training providers and industry to promote:

(a) demand driven curriculum development and placement, and

(b) national internship programmes

Additionally, the Council is responsible for issuing reports on the state of skills development in the country as well as advising Government on all matters relating to the management and improvement of TVET in Ghana.

VISION

The vision of the Council is to be a world-class leader in coordinating skills development.

MISSION

The mission is to coordinate and oversee a TVET system that produces a globally competitive workforce through quality-oriented and demand-driven learning for national development.

The Council operates as an agency under the Ministry of Education and is governed by a 15-member Board. The Board is supported by three (3) Technical Standing Committees: the National TVET Qualifications Committee (NTVETQC), the Industrial Training Advisory Committee (ITAC), and the Training Quality Assurance Committee (TQAC).

The Council operates from a secretariat located at the Education Village of the Ministry of Education, at East- Legon, Accra, and a Projects Support Unit (PSU) located within the same neighbourhood.

KEY POLICY ACHIEVEMENTS

Based on its mandate, the Council has so far laid some foundation blocks to spur the reforms in the technical and vocational education and training as well as skills development across Ghana; significant among these include:

1. Establishment of National TVET Qualifications Framework (NTVETQF) which is being operationalized.

2. Expansion of Competency-Based Training (CBT) use, with emphasis on linkage with industry which has been successful in 3 trade areas (Welding and Fabrication, Electronics and Mechanical Engineering)

3. Strategic Plan for TVET Transformation (2018-2022) developed and approved as the focus of the Council for the next five years

4. Implementation of key development projects on Public Private-Partnership basis to overhaul and rebrand TVET.

5. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy developed and approved to be implemented from 2018.

ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR

The Council had a five (5)-year Corporate Strategic Plan (2012-2016) which guided its operations. There were 6 strategic goals against which performance was measured. A Summary of various achievements chalked under each of the goals are presented to give a snapshot of how far the Council has gone in meeting these goals.

Goal 1 Build Capacity of COTVET and TVET Providers

1. $2.5M committed to 5 Science and Technology Institutions under Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation to facilitate private sector Research & Development has recorded significant outputs in all 5 institutions.

2. Infrastructure development/ Civil works for 13 Technical institutions are due for completion in June 2018.

3. Ten (10) institutions awarded grants to establish Industrial Production Units (IPU) and refurbish their workshops. Institutions been linked to industries to sustain the management and implementation of the lPUs.

4. Capacity building for TVET instructors on schedule to complete in December 2018. Candidates selected across various TVET institutions include 5 PhD, 20 Masters and 148 Diploma level courses in CBT delivery.

5. Student Entrepreneurship Business Model programme is in advanced stage in 13 participating institutions.

Goal 2 Develop and Harmonize Regulatory Framework for TVET/ Skill Development

1. The Council participated actively in the work of the legislative committee of the Ministry of Education seeking to synchronize mandates of Agencies under the Ministry.

2. COTVET’s coordinated engagement with other stakeholder agencies has had an increased compliance with the TVET policy directive.

3. Stakeholder engagement at Policy level is progressing. Key among those engaged with include APTI and GES, CORR

4. Twenty-three (23) CBT operational manuals finalized and approved by the COTVET Board to support CBT rollout.

5. Gender strategy has been developed and is being implemented- GAP analysis and accompanying stakeholder sensitization started.

Goal 3 Improve Quality and Relevance of TVE T and Expand Access to TVET Programmes

1. 10 institutions under GSTDP Component 1 have been completed.

2. Capacity building for 148 TVET instructors in selected technical schools including COLTEK completed. Training contracts were signed for 150.

3. Training of Trainers (TOT) for 800 MCPs in CBT mode, across various projects completed.

4. Engagement of TVET equipment specialist done to provide expert advice on TVET equipment sourcing.

Goal 4 Enhance the Attractiveness of TVET System for National Development

  1. The Role model programme targeting increased awareness of female education in TVET sector. 2000 students from JHS, SHS, TVET Institutions and Polytechnics participated throughout the country.
  2. World Youth Skills Day observed with exhibitions held in all ten regions of Ghana.
  3. The Females in Electronics Project; a collaboration between COTVET, GIZ, KOICA and Samsung has been implemented in 4Technical Institutions across Ghana.
  4. TVET Guidance and Counselling Manual has been developed with support from GIZ-CAADP (Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme) ATVET Project.
  5. MyTVET Campaign strategy has been developed and is being implemented to create awareness and promote TVET and skills development amongst the youth.

Goal 5 Achieve Sustainable Financing for TVE T

1. Development Partner (DP) coordination intensified through organization of joint missions and regular meeting for effective aid coordination. Government counterpart funding for project implementation secured. Preparatory works including funds generation plans being developed to facilitate IGF mobilization. Periodic review of tariff guide through Parliamentary approval.

Goal 6 Build Capacity of Informal TVET System

1. Bursary/ scholarship schemes targeting over 4,000 TVET learners launched, 2500 from the informal sector apprentices and 1554 Master Crafts Persons (MCPs) in Auto Mechanics, Garment making, Cosmetology and electronics trade trained in CBT under the DSIP project.

2. Unit specifications and Learning materials (for Proficiencies 1&2) developed; and generated occupational standards validated for training apprentices in five trade areas namely Cosmetology, Garment Making, Auto Mechanics, Electronics, Welding and Fabrication.

3. Over 90 TVET instructors in 17 piloted schools trained on CBT curricula and the schools’ capacity built to manage CBT, through progressive implementation of GSDI phase II.

4. Development of MIS system for database on all informal sector TVET operators.

5. Implementation of a 10 Million Euro Ghana TVET Voucher Project (GTVP) supported by KfW.

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR TVET TRANSFORMATION (2018-2022)

The Council as part of its efforts toward advancing the mandate for which it was setup has set the key goal of Transforming Ghana’s Labour Force to Enhance Productivity and Employment. To achieve the said goal, some policy Objectives have been outlined within the following broad areas: Governance and Management of TVET; Increased Access; improving Quality; TVET Financing; and Environmental Sustainability.

  1. Governance and Management of

TVET To provide a coherent legal and institutional framework for the TVET sector which is accountable and responsive to the demands of the private sector and other stakeholders. The

strategies to achieving this objective are;

  • Establishment of Sector Skills Councils in progress
  •  Consultations ongoing to realign all TVET institution to Ministry of Education
  • Operationalisation of the proposed TVET Service is in progress
  • Establishment of an Apex training institution to train TVET staff for both the public and the private sector, processes are being followed
  • Addition of Departments of Education to Technical Universities
  • Strengthening Agricultural Training in TVET started with support from GlZ
  • Processes to strengthen the capacity of COTVET are underway with the establishment of zonal offices within the country.
  • Increased Access

To ensure equitable access and promote gender mainstreaming in TVET. The strategies to achieving this objective are; 

  • Initial processes have been done to conduct Skills Gap Analysis] Audit.
  • Profiling and Needs Assessment of all TVET institutions has been done in some selected Institutions, others are in the process
  • Implementation of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
  •  Establishment of 20 New State of the Art Institutions.
  • Marketing and Promotion of TVET to stakeholders has begun with engagement on Social Media and with Association of Ghana industries (AGI), and a national campaign dubbed ‘MyTVET’
  • Improving Quality

To ensure quality assurance in TVET according to internationally accepted standards. The strategies to achieving this objective are; 

  • To effectively promote the Competency-Based Training Policy
  • To strengthen the Capacity of the qualifications and Awarding Body (Assessment and Certification)
  • TVET Financing

To develop a sustainable source of financing for TVET. The strategies to achieving this objective is;

  • The establishment of a Ghana Skills Development Fund to support TVET financing is under negotiation.
  • Environmental Sustainability

To green TVET for the environmental sustainability. The strategies to achieving this objective is;

  • To integrate Greening philosophies into the TVET curricula, workplace practices and communities, piloting stage has been completed.

These objectives have come as a result of commitment to transform the TVET sector in the country by constantly improving the delivery of service and to create fertile grounds for advancement that are relevant to national development

CORPORATE STRATEGIC PLAN

From the Strategic Plan for TVET Transformation, COTVET has set out some Strategic Goals and Objectives. These are captured as part of a five (S)-year Corporate Strategic Plan that outlines the direction of the Council from 2017-2021. Below are the eight (8) goals and objectives.

Goal 1: Enhancing the capacity of both COTVET and TVET providers (Formal and Informal).

  1. To achieve the optimum number of staff, improve their quality and maintain a pool of well-trained experts in COTVET
  2. To establish regional centres of COTVET 
  3. To provide adequate infrastructure for COTVET Secretariat
  4. To develop and implement staff policies
  5. To maintain a Management Information System (MIS) on TVET for effective and efficient decision making by stakeholders
  6. To establish baseline data for both the informal and informal sectors on trade associations, master crafts persons and apprenticeship
  7. To improve and standardize apprenticeship training
  8. To build the capacity of the informal TVET providers

Goal 2: Expanding the use of CBT in TVET

  1. To develop the skills and competences of TVET instructors in using CBT approach
  2. To develop the capacity of TVET institutions in the use of CBT approach
  3. To ensure that all TVET graduates demonstrate competences required of their respective fields at the time of graduation
  4. To ensure the advocacy and visibility of the CBT model

Goal 3: Ensuring equitable access and promoting gender mainstreaming in TVE T

  1. Increase number of trade areas and programmes coveredunder the TVET framework
  2. To increase access to TVET
  3. To upgrade infrastructure and facilities at the TVET institutions, e.g. laboratories, workshops, sanitary facilities for mates and females, persons with special needs, dormitories for long distance students.
  4. To establish a TVET admission framework with criteria that favour females and people at disadvantaged areas of the country
  5. To make TVET affordable
  6. To ensure TVET programmes give special attention to meeting the learning needs of vulnerable groups such as women, girls, poor, elderly, rural folks, etc.

Goal 4: Ensuring Quality Assurance in TVET

1. To institutionalize Quality Management Systems (QMS) at COTVET that will lead to obtaining International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) certifications

2. To ensure TVET institutions adhere to Quality Management Systems (QMS) provided by COTVET

3. To ensure training institutions develop useful partnerships with industry 4. To operationalize the National TVET Qualification Framework

Goals 5: Ensuring Sustainable TVET financing

  1. To mobilise funds for COTVET and TVET
  2. To establish a mechanism for TVET funds allocation that ensures effectiveness and efficiency.

Goal 6: Maintaining and sustaining a rationalized qualifications and certification system

1. To ensure relevance of qualification, accessibility of training and the employability of graduates through

NTVETQF.

2. To intensify awareness and understanding of NTVETQF 3. To strengthen linkage between training providers (formal, informal and workplace) and industry

Goal 7: Promoting Lifelong learning in TVE T

1. To ensure that TVET trainers are abreast with current knowledge in their fields and are developing market-oriented programmes through an engagement in career long professional development.

2. To enhance the knowledge-base, understanding and capacities of the TVET workforce

3. To promote knowledge and information sharing, in respect of innovative and nascent practices in TVET, through publications, exchange programmes, conferences and fora.

4. To create and promote an environment for all-inclusive learning in TVET

5. To promote the adoption and implementation of recognition of prior learning (RPL) in TVET

Goal 8: Greening TVET for environmental sustainability.

  1. To create awareness and promote adoption of green technology across TVET stakeholders.
  2. To develop the capacities of TVET institutions in carrying out green practices
  3. To include green philosophies in the curriculum of TVET institutions
  4. To ensure a collaboration between training providers and industry in developing new green technologies.