Dr. Apaak calls for stronger link between education and job market in digital economy

The Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has called for stronger links between classroom learning and the demands of the labour market, saying Ghana must equip young people with practical digital skills that can translate into employment and economic opportunities.

Speaking at the 2026 Break the Code: Capture the Flag (BRCTF) event in Accra on Thursday, October 22, Dr. Apaak said educational outcomes must go beyond enrolment, completion and examination performance to include the ability of graduates to apply their knowledge in the workplace.

The event, held at Kobi’s Event Centre in East Legon, was organised under the theme “Education for the Digital Economy: From Classroom to Global Jobs.”

“The real test is no longer simply, ‘What did you study?’ Increasingly, employers are asking, ‘What can you do?’ And that shift has enormous implications for education,” Dr. Apaak said.

According to the Deputy Minister, education providers must understand changes in industry and expose learners to the competencies employers need in an increasingly digital economy.

He identified cybersecurity, software engineering, data analytics, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital financial services, fraud prevention, e-commerce and trust and safety as areas offering opportunities for young people.

Dr. Apaak stressed that simply expressing interest in technology was not enough, arguing that learners needed practical, market-relevant capabilities.

“A cybersecurity student must be able to investigate an incident. A developer must be able to build. A data analyst must turn information into insight,” he said.

“A digital entrepreneur must solve a problem for a customer. The bridge from education to employment is built through practical competence.”

He also said education should continue to develop character, critical thinking, citizenship, creativity, curiosity and discipline while preparing learners to participate productively in the economy.

Dr. Apaak said competitions such as BRCTF provide an opportunity for young people to demonstrate their abilities through practical challenges rather than relying solely on memorised knowledge.

Participants in Capture the Flag competitions are required to investigate, think critically, collaborate, test solutions and learn from failure, skills he described as relevant to the workplace.

He called for a pathway that moves beyond discovering talented young people to developing their abilities, validating their skills and connecting them to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

The Deputy Minister urged education providers, industry players, government and development partners to work together to ensure that young people can move from the classroom to meaningful careers.

He also highlighted the importance of introducing digital skills early in school and providing career guidance to help learners understand emerging technology-related professions.

Dr. Apaak said Ghana’s responsibility was to prepare young people not merely to understand the digital world, but to participate, compete and create value within it.