Ghana minister urges universities to align programs with job market needs

Ghana’s Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has urged the country’s universities to revise their academic programs in line with labor market needs in order to help reduce graduate unemployment. He made the statement in Accra at the Higher Education Transformation Convening organized by the Mastercard Foundation, MyJoyOnline reports.

According to the minister, the gap between university training and available employment opportunities contributes to graduate unemployment. At the same time, technical, digital and industrial sectors in African countries are experiencing a shortage of qualified personnel.

Focus on technical disciplines

Iddrisu specifically addressed the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, known as KNUST. He urged the institution to maintain its focus on science, engineering and mathematics disciplines, which he believes are crucial for the future.

The minister noted that more than 450,000 higher education graduates enter Ghana’s labor market. Universities must therefore equip students with practical skills that will enable them to seize opportunities in technical, digital and industrial fields.

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Accessibility and quality of education

Mastercard Foundation President and CEO Reeta Roy said that transforming higher education in Africa should not be limited to improving opportunities for those already studying at universities. According to her, only about 9% of young Africans of university age receive higher education.

John Nkengasong, Mastercard Foundation executive director for higher education and strategic initiatives, said African countries can learn from the experience of other states but must build education systems with regard to their own economic and social needs. He also said that Africa has about 419 million people aged 15 to 25, and the transformation of higher education should help graduates solve problems and be competitive in the global economy.

The two-day event in Accra brings together representatives of universities, government, business, development organizations and youth to discuss talent development, innovation and pathways to decent work.

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