‘Ghana’s education has become irrelevant’

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KAMA group limited, Dr. Michael Agyekum Addo has observed that the country’s educational system has become irrelevant thus resulting in the soaring of graduate unemployment annually.

According to him, Ghana’s educational curriculum does not imbibe the spirit of entrepreneurship in students as the methodologies adopted by teachers only define theories and not the application of those theories to solve and confront practical problems employers now look out for in their employees.

He noted that employers in Ghana and around the world do not only pursue academic qualifications in their employees but more importantly creative tendencies to move their companies to achieve greater heights.

“Graduates of today should not only think of gaining employment in reputable firms but also channel their thoughts and vision towards becoming self employed and gradually employers themselves,” he advised.

The CEO made this observation during the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) in Cape Coast last week.

He explained that education is not about the certificate one holds but what one can offer to change his or her motherland. Dr. Agyekum Addo disclosed that to address this issue, the KAMA education project has been launched to create more employment in the country by targeting second cycle institutions through various fora on how to instil the spirit of entrepreneurship in students of the 21st century.

He charged heads of institutions to identify the potentials in their students and help them to polish them rather than lead them on to learn irrelevant courses at the university which cannot fetch them jobs after they complete.

He pointed out that the problem Ghana faces as a country is how to think and imagine to develop the country.

“The 21st century is for talent and not for academic work because academic carries only 15% of success whiles skills carry 25% and the rest is all about attitude. So we need to fit into this to be able to rub shoulders with the developed countries,” he indicated.

He also charged government to ensure that courses taught in schools are linked with entrepreneurship to enable graduates set up their own businesses after completing school.