Tamale: A stakeholders' forum to trigger conversation on the need for the government to expand the coverage of the Free TVET Policy to cover apprentices in the informal sector, has been held in Tamale. It was to provide the platform for relevant stakeholders such as the decentralised government agencies, civil society organisations, artisanal and trade associations, and opinion leaders to explore effective policy strategies for inclusive TVET and apprenticeship for out-of-school young people in the country. It was organised by the Centre for Development and Policy Advocacy (CEDEPA), an NGO, with funding support from Adamfo Ghana under the theme: 'The Role of Government in Promoting TVET and Apprenticeship Training among Out-of-School Young People in Ghana'. The forum formed part of the implementation of CEDEPA's Skills Training for Street-Connected Young Girls Project', which has since partnered with the TVET services to train and certify about 100 deproved out-of-school young girls on phone repairs, satel lite installation, computer skills, weaving, soap making, among others. Mr Alhassan Ziblim, a research fellow and project lead at CEDEPA, speaking during the forum, said whilst the organisation acknowledged the instrumental role of government in promoting TVET through the Free TVET Policy, it was equally crucial to widen its scope to cover informal sector apprentices, who wished to upgrade and formalise their training at the various TVET institutions. He said such development would not only foster inclusivity but would also ensure that more Ghanaian youth were equipped with the needed technical and vocational skills to create more employment opportunities in the country. Mr Amankona Ampofo, Northern Regional Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA), who chaired the event, emphasised the need for the youth to prioritise acquiring employable skills. Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern Regional Minister, whose speech was read on his behalf, said government was making significant strides in reforming the TVET sector to ensure that it was properly regulated and aligned with the national development agenda. He said, 'A key milestone in these efforts is the passage of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023).' He encouraged the youth to take advantage of the Free TVET Policy as the government worked towards including out-of-school youth into the policy. Mr Issah Musah, Northern Regional Director of the Ghana TVET Service, who was also represented at the event, said financial constraints had been a major challenge confronting the informal sector apprentices in accessing TVET. He said the Ghana TVET Service was making efforts to create flexible and inclusive apprenticeship pathways that took into consideration the diverse learning needs of the youth. Mr Musah appealed to all stakeholders including parents and guardians to change their preconceived perceptions on TVET, saying it should not be the last resort for those who could not make it to other schools. Participants, in an open forum sessi on, called for financial support to start their crafts, provision of tools to enhance effective training and more awareness creation on TVET, especially in rural communities. Source: Ghana News Agency