Assessing the role of Co-curricular programs in improving vocational skills in the Tertiary level among the Volta region schools

Authors

  • Judith Tibu St. Francis college of Education
  • Emefa Agbai Bissi St Francis College of Education
  • Rejoice Ama Wornyo St Francis College of Education
  • Rosemary Kludze Akorfa St. Francis college of Education
  • Margaret Appiah St. Francis college of Education

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71280/jotter.v3i2.549

Keywords:

Co-curricular activities, Vocational education, Visual Arts, Home Economics, Skill development

Abstract

This study assesses the effect of co-curricular programs towards promoting Visual Arts and Home Economics instruction in four tertiary institutions within the Volta Region of Ghana: Ho Technical University, Evangelical Presbyterian University College, Akatsi College of Education, and St. Francis College of Education. Utilizing a descriptive survey design, 171 participants (150 students, 15 lecturers, and 6 coordinators of programs) were surveyed using questionnaires and interviewed. Findings indicate widespread student participation in co-curricular training that is largely focused on the development of general skills and not vocational practice. Limited resources and poor industry linkage prevent the development of practical skills. Suggested solutions are the inclusion of more vocation-specific training, stronger industry partnership, and resource investment to develop students' vocational readiness and employability.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdela, M. (2023). School Of Education and Behavioral Sciences Department Of Teachers Education and Curriculum Studies Practices and Challenges of Teachers Involvement in Co-Curricular Activities in Selected Secondary.

Barnett, R. (2014). Conditions of flexibility. York: Higher Education Academy, 10, 1-88.

Chan, S. (2020). The Future of Trades Learning. In Identity, Pedagogy and Technology-enhanced Learning: Supporting the Processes of Becoming a Tradesperson (pp. 167-182). Singapore: Springer Singapore.

Díaz-Lauzurica, B., & Moreno-Salinas, D. (2019). Computational thinking and robotics: A teaching experience in compulsory secondary education with students with high degree of apathy and demotivation. Sustainability, 11(18), 5109.

Forstorp, P. A., & Mellström, U. (2018). Higher education, globalization and eduscapes: Towards a critical anthropology of a global knowledge society. Springer.

Gadling, N. A., & Bhosale, S. (2025). Vocational Education and Training as Bridging the Skill Gap: NEP 2020 Perspective. Journal of East-West Thought (Jet) Issn (O): 2168-2259 Ugc Care I, 15(1), 200-208.

Grossmann, M., & Naanda, R. (2006). Back to the future? The challenges of reforming vocational education and training (VET) systems: a critical analysing of Namibia's current VET reform.

Gyimah, N. (2020). Assessment of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) on the development of the World's Economy: Perspective of Africa, Asia and Europe. Asia and Europe (February 19, 2020).

Itefue, O. J. (2022). The Impact of Globalisation on Poverty in Nigeria from a Human Rights Law Perspective (Doctoral dissertation, Igbinedion University Okada).

Jackson, D., & Rowe, A. (2023). Impact of work-integrated learning and co-curricular activities on graduate labour force outcomes. Studies in Higher Education, 48(3), 490-506.

Karim, O. (2024). Understanding the development of Indigenous Perspectives of students within co-curricular engagement and learning in Canada (Doctoral dissertation, University of Liverpool).

Li, L. (2024). Reskilling and upskilling the future-ready workforce for industry 4.0 and beyond. Information Systems Frontiers, 26(5), 1697-1712.

Mishra, N., & Aithal, P. (2023). Academic Leadership in Higher Education. International Journal of Philosophy and Languages, 2(2), 85-97.

Mittal, P., & Bansal, R. (2024). Integrating Sustainability into Curricular and Co-curricular Activities in Higher Education. In Community Engagement for Sustainable Practices in Higher Education: From Awareness to Action (pp. 55-70). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

Mthabela, S. M. (2024). Exploring the role of Technical Vocational Education and Training college management in utilising Learning Management Systems.

Nawaz, M. R., Javed, M. I., & Akhter, N. (2024). Exploring the effectiveness of Co-curricular activities in Developing Students' Soft Skills at University Level. Journal of Social Signs Review, 2(4), 441-480.

Ogondiek, M. W. (2024). Role of Entrepreneurship Education on Self-Employment in Tanzania: Case of Vocational Institutions Graduates. Pan-African Journal of Business Management, 8(2), 14-25.

Okojie, M. U., Bastas, M., & Miralay, F. (2022). Using curriculum mapping as a tool to match student learning outcomes and social studies curricula. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 850264.

Penno, J. M. (2025). Coaches in the Classroom: The Impact of Teacher Engagement in Extracurricular Activities. Youngstown State University.

Singh, A. (2017). Effect of co-curricular activities on academic achievement of students. IRA International Journal of Education and Multidisciplinary Studies, 6(3), 241-254.

Singh, S., & Agarwal, S. (2024). Empowering individuals for a sustainable tomorrow: Role of life skills development. Journal of Ecophysiology and Occupational Health, 24(2), 211-219.

Smith, M. J. (2021). Making Meaning of Leadership Development in Pharm. D. Students through Their Co-Curricular Involvement (Doctoral dissertation, University of Georgia).

Sobratee, N., & Bodhanya, S. (2018). Leading in a global context: The balancing act between leadership and management. Journal of Business and Retail Management Research, 12(4).

Suleiman, M., & Magaji, H. S. B. (2020). Nexus of ict & entrepreneurship education in nigeria: A critical review. International Journal of Research, 7(06), 73-86.

Suleman, F. (2018). The employability skills of higher education graduates: insights into conceptual frameworks and methodological options. Higher Education, 76(2), 263-278.

Teichler, U. (2019). Higher education and the world of work: Conceptual frameworks, comparative perspectives, empirical findings (Vol. 16). Brill.

Trivedi, K., & Srivastava, K. B. (2022). The role of knowledge management processes in leveraging competitive strategies to achieve firm innovativeness. The Bottom Line, 35(2/3), 53-72.

Vogel, P. (2015). Addressing the gap between the education system and the labor market. In Generation Jobless? Turning the youth unemployment crisis into opportunity (pp. 104-146). London: Palgrave Macmillan UK.

Wildman, B. B. (2024). The Co-Curriculum of College Student Employment: Perspectives from Supervising Practitioners. University of Kentucky.

Yan, J. (2025). Assessing the link between digital government development and urban industrial chain resilience: Evidence from public data openness. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 112, 107796.

Yapin, H., Suhadi, N., & Esa, A. (2017). Implementation of Green Skills through the co-curriculum activities among students Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) towards development of Green Industry. Elixir Soc. Sci, 107, 47295-47297.

Downloads

Published

2025-12-30

How to Cite

Tibu, J., Agbai Bissi, E., Ama Wornyo, R., Kludze Akorfa , R., & Appiah, M. (2025). Assessing the role of Co-curricular programs in improving vocational skills in the Tertiary level among the Volta region schools. Journal of Teacher Training and Educational Research, 3(2), 52–63. https://doi.org/10.71280/jotter.v3i2.549

Similar Articles

1 2 3 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.