Effective dressmaking apprenticeship curriculum : A strategic approach to acquiring employable skills in the Volta region, Ghana.

Abstract

The role of effective apprenticeship is useful to develop capabilities valuable to entrepreneurs and leaders now and later. Thus, promoting the effectiveness of fashion apprenticeship is important to guarantee competitive advantage for enhanced employability and performance by apprentices. This study examined effective dressmaking apprenticeship curriculum; a strategic approach to acquiring employable skills in selected dressmaking shops in the Volta region, Ghana. Data was collected from 80 masters/madams and apprentices at dressmakers’ shops in the Volta region, Ghana. The purposive sampling method was employed, and structured questionnaire and semi- structured interview aid in data collection. SPSS is used to analyse the collected data. The findings revealed that fashion apprenticeship curriculum usage is minimal, although it offers enormous benefits to the transfer of employability skills and fashion apprenticeship effectiveness. It was recommended that, the fashion industry and those responsible for apprenticeship programs encourage and enforce the use of fashion apprenticeship curriculum through continuous enhancement process and proper management to ensure transfer of valuable knowledge for employability and competitiveness.