Education should be geared towards solving national challenges and equipping young people with practical skills rather than producing a privileged class disconnected from the needs of society, Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has said.
Speaking on the role of education in national development, he argued that Ghana’s educational system must be deliberately aligned with the country’s economic and social transformation agenda.
According to him, the success of an educational system should not be measured solely by the number of certificates it produces but by its ability to prepare graduates to contribute meaningfully to national progress.
“Education must serve national development. It must produce problem-solvers, innovators and entrepreneurs, not just certificate holders,” he said.
He stressed that education should empower young people with employable skills and create pathways for self-employment and enterprise development.
“Education must not be used to create an elite class that is disconnected from the realities of ordinary Ghanaians. It must be a tool for transformation and nation-building,” he stated.
Mr Awuah noted that the growing concern over graduate unemployment points to the need for reforms that place greater emphasis on technical, vocational and entrepreneurial training.
He reiterated calls for increased investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), arguing that practical skills development remains one of the most effective ways to tackle unemployment among the youth.
“TVET offers direct skills and knowledge that can help young people become self-employed and even create jobs for others,” he said. “If we want to address unemployment sustainably, we must place greater value on skills training and innovation.”
He further urged policymakers to ensure that educational reforms are guided by the long-term development needs of the country rather than short-term political considerations.
According to him, countries that have achieved rapid economic growth did so by aligning education with industry, technology and national development priorities.
Mr Awuah therefore called on government, educational institutions, industry players and development partners to work together to build an education system that prepares students not only for examinations but also for productive participation in the economy.
“Education must help us build the Ghana we want. It should develop the human capital needed to transform our communities, strengthen our economy and improve the lives of our people,” he added.
