The Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has attributed the high level of youth unemployment in the country to the nature of courses offered by tertiary institutions in Ghana.
Speaking at the New Year School at the University of Ghana, Dr Adutwum highlighted that many programmes offered at the tertiary level do not align with the demands of the job market.
According to the Minister, even though some of these courses are accredited, they do not lead to job creation and are not relevant to industry needs.
Dr Adutwum emphasized the urgent need for an overhaul of some tertiary programmes to ensure they bridge the gap between academia and industry.
“We need to change course. Because unemployment invariably comes from the fact that we’re training the graduates for courses that don’t exist,” Dr Adutwum stated.
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He also pointed out the oversaturation of students in certain fields, such as education, where job opportunities are limited.
The Minister’s remarks support the growing calls for a shift towards more job-oriented education in Ghana. With the country’s unemployment rate on the rise, many young graduates are struggling to find employment, leading to feelings of frustration and depression.
Dr Adutwum assured that the Ministry of Education is working to implement changes that will better prepare students for the workforce and improve the prospects of young people across the nation.
“So many students have enrolled in diploma in education. They’re being trained for jobs that do not exist. Thousands and thousands are graduating for jobs that do not exist… I’m fully aware and we’re engaging the universities. I think we need to focus on courses that have relevance to that particular student and to the nation”, Dr Adutwum said.