Five women have etched their names into history as the first fee-paying graduates of D’SHE NEWIG Fashion School in Tefle, a milestone that spotlights both the promise and the painful cost of vocational education in Ghana’s Volta Region.
The Network of Women in Growth Ghana, Development in Self Reliance — known as D’SHE NEWIG — held the ceremony on Saturday to honour the cohort, who trained in fashion design, cosmetology, bead making and other hands-on vocational disciplines. The graduation carries extra weight because these students funded their own education after government support through the TVET Voucher Programme stalled, forcing them to shoulder the full financial burden of a training model that relies heavily on costly materials and practical instruction.
Ten students originally signed up for the programme, but half dropped out before completion, unable to keep up with expenses. School founder and TVET consultant Mawusi Awity Nudekor did not shy away from the reality. “TVET is expensive because of the materials and the intensive practical training involved, but it remains the most viable path to national development,” she said, appealing directly to government, parents and other stakeholders to channel more resources into skills-based education. She also urged the graduates to push beyond their current qualifications and pursue advanced credentials such as B.Tech and M.Tech degrees, positioning themselves as ambassadors for the institution.
Collins Armah, National Project Coordinator and Team Leader for the TVET Voucher Project, framed technical and vocational training as a “master key” capable of unlocking employment and entrepreneurship for young Ghanaians. He pointed to the track record of developed nations that invested deliberately in skills training as evidence of what Ghana could achieve. “TVET opens doors. With the right skills and certification, you can create your own job or be employed. It gives you independence and the opportunity to grow further academically and professionally,” Armah told the gathering. He encouraged the graduates to explore advancement pathways within the National TVET Qualification Framework.
Stephen Asomani, Greater Accra Regional Coordinator of the Ghana TVET Service, reminded the new professionals that a certificate was a starting line, not a finish. He challenged them to stay creative and adaptable, warning that only innovation would set them apart in an increasingly competitive market. “You must think outside the box and do things differently to succeed. The skills you have acquired are just the beginning,” he said. Facilitator and South Tongu Association of Small Scale Industries chairperson Forgive Dzadzah reinforced that message, noting that fashion serves not merely as clothing but as a vehicle for identity, culture and storytelling.
Speaking for her classmates, course representative Rosemary Kudze captured the mood with quiet defiance. “We have found our voice through threads and creativity. This is just the beginning of our journey as professionals,” she declared.
Parents, fellow facilitators, heads of other TVET institutions and sector officials filled the venue, turning the modest ceremony into a broader affirmation of skills development as a driver of national growth. Yet the dropout rate — half the original class lost to funding gaps — poses a pointed question: if vocational training truly holds the master key to Ghana’s future, who will pay to turn it?
Source: Ghana News Agency
