We need reset in apprenticeship programme - Eduwatch
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch), has called for a complete reset of the nation’s National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP) to make it more inclusive, climate-responsive, and digitally driven.
The Executive Director of Eduwatch, Kofi Asare, said the current apprenticeship landscape was outdated and disconnected from the realities of the 21st-century labour market, adding that most training centres lacked modern equipment and had not kept pace with developments in green and digital technologies.
He made the call during a presentation at a forum dubbed “Young People’s Forum on the National Apprenticeship Programme, held in Accra.
NAP forum
The NAP, recently launched by President John Dramani Mahama, is a government initiative to train over 10,000 young Ghanaians in practical, job-ready skills through structured apprenticeships.
It aims at reducing youth unemployment, promoting entrepreneurship, and supporting Ghana’s industrial growth by bridging the gap between education and the job market.
This initiative complements other youth-focused programmes such as the Adwumawura Initiative and the One Million Coders project, all designed to empower the youth and promote economic stability.
The forum, organised in collaboration with Oxfam in Ghana and FOSDA, brought together youth groups to contribute to the ongoing national dialogue on transforming apprenticeship training.
It featured a session where young people shared ideas and recommendations, which Eduwatch plans to present to policymakers.
Gender, green jobs
Mr Asare stated that the apprenticeship programme must be deliberately redesigned to promote gender-neutral access and ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
“Currently, 74 per cent of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) enrolments are male, and gender trade stereotypes persist,” he said.
Touching on green skills, the EduWatch boss said that only 25.6 per cent of formal TVET learners were aware of green skills, despite a growing demand for labour in sectors such as solar energy, waste recycling, and sustainable agriculture.
He urged stakeholders to integrate environmental sustainability into all trade curricula and promote eco-trades such as climate-smart farming and eco-construction. “Green trades not only create jobs but also enhance climate resilience,” he added.
Digital innovation
On digital innovation, Mr Asare revealed that only 20 per cent of TVET learners felt digitally ready, adding that informal apprenticeships often lacked digital tools due to poor internet access, high data costs, and limited devices.
He, therefore, recommended the introduction of mobile-based simulations, video tutorials, and blended learning to modernise training. “Digital tailoring, agri-tech platforms, and mobile repair are just a few examples of trades that should be digitally enabled.”
Mr Asare stressed the need for an apprenticeship model that reflects the aspirations of the youth, combining skills, equity, and environmental responsibility to prepare them for the future of work.
Government vision
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Ayariga, outlined the government’s vision to use the NAP as a key tool to tackle youth unemployment, particularly targeting young people not in education, employment, or training.
With government funding of GH¢300 million this year to train 10,000 youth and plans to scale up to 100,000 beneficiaries next year, the CEO stressed the government’s commitment to sustained support backed by public-private partnerships and donor engagement.
To ensure transparency and accountability, Mr Ayariga disclosed that monitoring would be carried out by government agencies as well as independent institutions.
