Emeritus Professor Ernest Aryeetey, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, has recognised youth unemployment as the most urgent economic challenge confronting the nation, attributing it to fundamental deficiencies within the education system.
In an interview, Professor Aryeetey remarked, “What is the biggest economic problem we see in Ghana today? For me, it is youth unemployment. That, for me, is the biggest problem that we face”.
He contended that addressing youth unemployment necessitates a comprehensive reform of the existing educational framework, which he believes fails to meet the job market demands.
“How do we tackle youth unemployment when the schools are not properly structured to prepare them for the market? You’ve got to go back to basics and deal with it,” he stated.
Professor Aryeetey noted that there is substantial research conducted in Ghana, throughout Africa, and internationally, indicating how early-stage education can be transformed to cultivate more adaptable and productive students.
“There is enough research being done, not only in Ghana but all over Africa and other places, that shows you a type of education that you can bring at the basic, Junior High School level, at the Senior High level, that leads to more productive students who are versatile,” he elaborated.
He criticised the excessive focus on university education, asserting that it does not adequately address the wider requirements of the economy.
“They don’t need a university degree to be able to do things. But we’ve built a system that takes us all into the university. It is wrong, and it will always be wrong,” he stressed.
