Low female participation in TVET worrying, urgent steps needed to address it – Haruna Iddrisu
Low female participation in TVET worrying, urgent steps needed to address it - Haruna Iddrisu
The Minister of Education, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, has raised concerns over the persistent low enrolment of girls in Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions across the country.
The Education Minister’s concerns are rooted in the fact that programmes under TVET hold the future for job opportunities. Adding that currently, there is a growing demand for skilled labour both at home and abroad.
Speaking to the journalists during a monitoring visit to some centres where the ongoing 2025 TVET examinations are taken place in Eastern Region on Monday, June 30, 2025.
Mr. Iddrisu described the gender gap in the TVET space as a pressing issue that could hinder national development and efforts toward gender equity in the workforce.
“This year, over 55,000 students are taking part in the TVET examinations, yet only 14,000 of them are female.
This is not just a statistic; it is a wake-up call. We cannot build a robust, inclusive economy when half of our population is underrepresented in critical sectors like skilled trades,” he reiterated.
Mr. Iddrisu, who is the sitting Member of Parliament for Tamale South constituency in the Northern region, stressed the urgent need for targeted interventions to encourage more girls to pursue careers in technical and vocational fields, which he said offer promising pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.
On that note, the Education Minister reiterated his government’s commitment to promoting gender balance in education and called on stakeholders, including school management, parents, and industry leaders, to work collaboratively to change the narrative.
