NN38, February 2007
Technical and Vocational Skills Development
JICA?S NEW EMPHASIS ON TVET
By Takao Maruyama, Human Development Department, JICA, Tokyo
KeywordsTVET, JICA, Ghana
Summary
JICA has been involved with technical cooperation projects on human resource development for industry for over ten years. Even though these projects have contributed to human resource development of developing countries, another approach, namely institutional building of TVET, is necessary to increase the impact and sustainability of cooperation. JICA has become involved with this approach in Ghana.
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JICA categorizes their cooperation for the TVET sector in two approaches: developing human resources for industry, and skills development for poverty reduction. The first category aims to ensure that those who are educated and trained will enter the labour market and find employment in the workplace using the skills they have acquired.
JICA has currently implemented 36 technical cooperation projects on human resource development for industry within ten years (from 1994 to 2003) across the world. Most of the projects have focused on capacity building of public training institutes/schools with upgrading skills of instructors through in-service training. Even though those projects have contributed to human resource development of developing countries, another approach, namely institutional building of TVET, is necessary to increase the impact and sustainability of cooperation. JICA has become involved with this approach in Ghana.
In Ghana, JICA implemented research on the TVET sector from 2000 to 2001 along with the Government of Ghana. The study clearly showed that TVET in Ghana lacked consistency among TVET institutions, and did not correspond to the demand of industry. The study recommended that Ghana should introduce a competency-based approach to TVET. The Government of Ghana accepted it and finally approved the Council of TVET (COTVET) Act in July 2006. The Act established COTVET which will control the qualifications framework, the standard of training packages and the recognition of training institutes/schools.
JICA has assisted the process of discussion and establishment of the Act. In May 2004, a national forum was held among the relevant ministries, industries, and NGOs to share the purpose of reform in TVET sector. In February 2005, an educational round-table conference was established based upon the request from Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment. The conference discussed the guidelines for the introduction of a competency based approach to TVET.
JICA plans to continually implement the project to support the TVET sector reform in Ghana. The project will assist activities of COTVET, and implementation of pilot training at several training institutes/schools. The project supports not only the establishment of a qualification framework and preparation of training modules, but it promotes training institutes/schools to run courses with the modules. The COTVET and training institutes/schools will enhance the capacity of managing competency-based training as a whole through the project.
Beyond Ghana, JICA will further cooperate in the institution building of TVET and the capacity building of public training institutes/schools with a potential high impact and sustainability.
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