Secondary vocational education

In Ghana, secondary vocational education is part of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) is responsible for the content of study programmes (curriculum) and the accreditation of educational institutions (TVET providers) and study programmes.

Types of study programmes

There are many types of study programmes in Ghanaian secondary vocational education. The study programmes vary in terms of their admission requirements, duration , content and transfer entitlement . You need information about this in order to determine the level of a diploma. Below, we describe 2 diplomas we often see: the Certificate I and the Certificate II.

• Duration: 2 years.
• Content: profession-oriented subjects.
• Admission requirements: a Basic Education Certificate or a comparable diploma.
• Function of the diploma: access to study programmes for a Certificate II.
• Diploma: a Certificate I.

• Duration: 1 year.
• Content: profession-oriented subjects and some general education subjects. The general education subjects are as follows:
  • English language;
  • entrepreneurship;
  • integrated science (a combination of biology, chemistry and physics);
  • mathematics; and
  • social studies.
• Admission requirements: a Certificate I or a West African Senior School Certificate.
• Function of the diploma: access to study programmes for a Higher National Diploma (HND) or a Bachelor of Technology (BTech).
• Diploma: Certificate II.