Veteran journalist warns outdated education system failing to prepare graduates for jobs
By Solomon Nartey Tetteh
A Veteran journalist at the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Lloyd Evans, has raised concerns about the country’s educational structure, describing it as outdated and ineffective in preparing students for the demands of today’s job market.
Over the years, Ghana’s educational system has faced criticism for its heavy emphasis on theory over practical skills.
Rooted in the colonial-era grammar school model, the system prioritises traditional academic subjects such as English, Mathematics and Science, often at the expense of vocational and technical training.
Speaking on The Focus on Zed 101.9 FM, Mr Evans argued that the system has “woefully failed” to shift from a grammar-based model to one that emphasises practical training and skills development.
“In our educational system, students that come out of these institutions are expected to be carefully trained. But looking at the whole structure, I think we have woefully failed because the focus was supposed to change to more practical training. Yet, we are still running the grammar system,” he said.
Mr Evans stressed that the continued reliance on traditional methods centred heavily on subjects such as English, Mathematics and Science has left graduates ill-prepared for the job market, fuelling unemployment.
According to the veteran journalist, countries like Germany, China, Japan and even the UN have adopted systems that combine academics with hands-on training, ensuring that students graduate with skills they can immediately apply in the workforce.
“As they train you, they are giving you skills. You are acquiring skills. So immediately you come out of it, you know exactly what you have to do,” he explained.
Mr Evans further criticised universities for churning out large numbers of graduates without addressing employability.
“Our universities produce graduates every now and then. What has been their use? There’s a lot of unemployment,” he noted.
Mr Evans called for a national reassessment of Ghana’s education system, urging policymakers to adopt approaches that align with global best practices.
“If we continue with this system, your child will come out of university with a BA, go further to have an MA or PhD, and still be at home,” he warned.
Mr Evans also highlighted the urgency for reform, noting that without change, Ghana risks perpetuating a cycle of jobless graduates.
