MESSAGE BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CTVET, DR. FRED KYEI ASAMOAH, AT THE PRESS LAUNCH OF THE WORLDSKILLS GHANA ZONAL SKILLS COMPETITION 2023.

Our friends from the media.

I am delighted to have you here as we kickstart the 2023 WorldSkills Ghana Zonal Skills Competition.

There exists evidence which connects the use of skills competitions in technical and vocational education (TVET) to improve outcomes for teaching and learning. Skills competitions provide a great opportunity for employer and industry involvement in competitions. It helps instructors, tutors, and trainers to further develop occupational and pedagogical expertise.

The introduction of skills competitions by CTVET as part of the MY TVET campaign is aimed at revitalizing technical and vocational education and training skills competitions among TVET institutions in the country.

Ghana is the 81st member and the first West African country to join World Skills International, a group of people and organisations that together advance the shared social objective of increasing the provision of skills. With this, we join other member countries in building the confidence of millions of young people and inspiring young competitors to turn their passions into professions.

WorldSkills is a movement of change. With its over 85-member countries and regions, it helps young people who want to change their lives and the fortunes of their communities, and societies.

As a player in the field of technical and vocational education and training, WorldSkills International is dedicated to the didactic concept of „learning in competition“, continuing education for trainers and HR managers, career orientation measures, and specialist topics such as the digitalization of vocational education and training and the working world of the future.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Zonal Skills competition will take place within two zones of the country. The Southern Zone will take place from 26th to 29th June 2023 whilst the Northern Zone will take place from 3rd to 6th July 2023.

In all, there would be 368 competitors from across the country competing during this year’s event. Out of this, 110 will be competing in the Northern Zone whilst the remaining 268 will compete in the Southern Zone.

The trade areas for the competition are: bricklaying, fashion technology, autobody repair, cooking, carpentry and joinery, hairdressing, welding, automobile technology, beauty therapy, graphic design, I.T. software solutions for business, mechatronics, mechanical engineering CAD and electrical installation.

The introduction of skills competitions is paramount because it has the potential to accelerate any country’s drive toward development. Skills competitions encourage creativity, competitiveness, and innovation and more importantly boost the image of a country on the international stage. It is also aimed at raising stakeholder awareness and courting industry support for TVET in Ghana. CTVET, together with other partners coordinate the overall competition and also prepares national winners for international skills competitions such as the WorldSkills Competition. This is to ensure that the youth are exposed to a variety of skill areas and technology.

This year’s competition is being supported by the EU Ghana Pact for Skills: Support to the Transformation of the TVET System being implemented by GIZ, World University Service of Ghana, under the INVEST Project, UNI-JAY Company Limited, and Prestige Institute Professionals.

Winners from the Zonal Skills Competition will progress to compete in the National Skills Competition which will be taking place in October this year. We are also taking steps to ensure that can compete in the WorldSkills International Competition which will take place next year in Lyon, France.

We would like to use this opportunity to invite all stakeholders and especially the media, to join us from tomorrow at the various competition venues.

We would also like to use this opportunity to appeal to Corporate Ghana to support this movement which is aimed at transforming technical and vocational education and training. The role of Corporate Ghana in achieving the aims and objectives of this Commission cannot be emphasized enough. Whatever we do is geared towards providing the skilled manpower required to work for the various sectors and industries. Thus, their support will be needed as we train these young people for the future world of work.

Together, we can support and expand TVET for young people in Ghana.

Let‘s start together now to make a lasting difference in the lives of these young people by supporting the WorldSkills Ghana Competitions.

To the competitors, I wish each of them, the best of luck. They should see this as an opportunity to upgrade their skills and learn from the best experts we have available.

Thank you all, and see you tomorrow at the competition venues.