This paper highlights the role of the ICQN on Technical and Vocational Skills Development (TVSD) in promoting education and training reforms in Africa since 2010, primarily to reduce youth unemployment. The document focuses on how to create an education-training continuum that ensures seamless integration between education and vocational training, thereby preparing African youths for the workforce.

The paper raises questions on issues related to the relevance and structural orientation of African educational systems. It proposes strategies to improve formal education and employability in Africa, including by focusing on innovative and contextually relevant approaches. It also advocates for stakeholder collaboration, teacher training, curriculum reform, and lifelong learning.

The paper makes a strong case for the shift from Technical and Vocational Education and Training to TVSD, a broader and more inclusive education-training continuum. The global education-training continuum, implemented in Europe, Korea, and Africa, offers valuable insights for implementation in African countries, revealing lessons learned and implications for the continent’s education and training policies.

The paper concludes by highlighting the importance of digital literacy, inclusivity, and green economies in the education-to-employment process, advocating for a dynamic transformation of African education systems to meet labor market demands and empower individuals for economic growth.