Offinso North MP Tables Six-Point TVET Reform Plan in Parliament, Urging Ghana to Adopt Germany’s Dual System to Power Industrialization

Member of Parliament for Offinso North, Hon. Fred Kyei Asamoah, has made a strong case for overhauling Ghana’s technical and vocational education system, urging the adoption of key elements from Germany’s dual TVET model to drive industrialization and youth employment.

Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament, Hon. Asamoah described technical and vocational education and training as “a national priority for economic transformation.”

“Mister Speaker, Ghana’s future competitiveness will depend on how deliberately we build a skilled workforce that can respond to industry needs, technological change, and the demand for a modern economy,” he said.

*Drawing from Germany’s success*

Hon. Asamoah noted that after World War II, Germany elevated vocational education into a central pillar of its economy. Today, its dual system trains about 1.2 million apprentices across 400,000 companies and more than 8,000 vocational schools, covering over 320 recognized occupations.

He cited data showing that in 2021, 74% of German apprentices were retained by their training companies with employment contracts, while 96% secured employment after completing training.

Visits to the German Parliament, Chamber of Industry and Commerce, BIBB Federal Institute for Vocational Education, AXA Insurance Group, and other institutions, he said, confirmed that “effective TVET must integrate theory, practical training, and real workplace experience.”

Under the German model, apprentices train for 2 to 3.5 years under formal contracts, combining school-based learning with company-based training while receiving a monthly allowance.

“The strength of the German model lies not only in public investment but also in strong employer participation, legal clarity, quality assurance, and the recognition that skills development is a long-term investment in productivity, innovation, and competitiveness,” Hon. Asamoah told Parliament.

To replicate that success, Hon. Asamoah tabled six proposals for Ghana which includes Industry participation by Making employers active partners in curriculum design, workplace training, assessment and certification.

Again, Structured apprenticeships, calling for the expansion of formal apprenticeship pathways across all TVET programs so every learner gets workplace experience before graduation.