Following your article, and subsequent interactions, on the incorporation of ESG, and CSR principles in the pursuit of green skills, by the Sector Skills Bodies, and the platform offered us I.e International Conference on environment, social, governance and corporate social responsibilities(ICESDA 24), it is important to chart a strategic pathway and TVET welcomes this. Laudable initiative.

The Commission for TVET is the government agency with the legal mandate to regulate, promote and administer TVET for transformation and innovation for sustainable sustainable development.

This is a forward looking mandate to ensure that TVET is properly aligned and relevant to meet the current and future workforce needs of various economic sectors of the economy, and creating employment and decent work opportunities for all with attention on inclusiveness.

Over the years, the Commission has led and facilitated many policy interventions for transformation and sustainable development of the TVET sub-sector. Some of which are  implementation of the Ghana Harmonised Competency-Based Training (CBT), National TVET Qualifications Framework,  implementation of quality apprenticeship measures under the Ghana TVET Voucher and Ghana Jobs and Skills Project Apprenticeship Programme, development of over hundred demand driven  CBT programme across Agriculture, Construction, Hospitality and Tourism, Automotive, Beauty and Wellness, Textiles and Apparel, Health Care, Pharmaceuticals, Electrical and Electronic, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental and Sanitation, among some others.

All these among others have been possible through a delibrate collaboration by the Commission with relevant public, private, social and development partner organisations.

A key critical point for causing sustainable transformation is partnering with the private sector through the establishment of some sector skills bodies.

This is where we see greater opportunity and platform for various economic sector industries (Public and private) to come together and consolidate their efforts and experiences for the development of the 21st century workforce for their respective sector industries growth and competitiveness.

This also seriously calls for the private sector to appreciate and understand that they have to partner agencies and participate in and support education and training institutions in skills development.

This could be done through training of instructors in emerging  technologies in specific occupations, providing space for internship, workplace Expeerience Learing, supporting the concept of DuaL TVET with industry at the center, setting up practical training laboratories on campuses of TVET institutions, among others.

Suffice to also point out that for the above to be very voluntarily and committedly done, industries will also require some policies that will encourage them to come together with a common understanding that their investment into skills development will yield the needed returns for them.

Maybe, policies and regulations that enjoins industries to establish and be members of specific chamber of industries where roles and commitments are clearly specified to support skills development as part of industries corporate national and social responsibility (CNSR).

Another policy could be the determination and implementation of some tax holidays for industries that support skills training to serve as motivation for sustainability.

This conversation again brings to bear that strengthening partnership and collaboration for sustainable skills development could be unlocked through knowledge and understanding our corporate roles in ESG and CSR principles. Then it stimulate our appreciation for our joint roles in ensuring a safe and sustainable work for a sustainable environment and social development underpinned in the SDGs.

Written by: Engr. Theophilus Tetteh Zogblah, TVET EXPERT