Education must produce job creators, not job seekers – Dr Apaak

Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Abas Apaak says Ghana’s education system must prioritise producing job creators rather than job seekers.

He made these statements while delivering a keynote address at the Impact Roundtable Discussion and Robotics Competition (AIRTAD) at the University of Ghana, where he outlined the government’s vision for a future-ready workforce.

Dr. Apaak stressed that education reforms must respond to rapid technological change and evolving labour market demands.

“The question is not whether the future will arrive; it is whether our learners will be ready to lead it,” he said.

According to him, Ghana’s renewed focus on STEAM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, is central to building that leadership capacity.

“When we get STEAM education right, we produce graduates who can design solutions for agriculture, health, sanitation, energy, transportation, fintech, manufacturing, and the creative economy,” he stated.

He emphasised that beyond employability, the goal is entrepreneurship and innovation. “We also produce job creators. Young people who can identify problems in their communities and build solutions that improve lives,” Dr. Apaak added.

The Deputy Minister disclosed that the government intends to introduce a SmartStart Curriculum to strengthen the integration of STEAM, coding, digital literacy and technical and vocational education into basic schooling.

“This government intends to initiate a SmartStart Curriculum for greater integration of STEAM, coding, digital literacy, and TVET into basic education,” he noted, describing it as a practical pathway to nurturing innovation from an early stage.

Dr. Apaak further highlighted the importance of hands-on learning platforms that connect students to real-world challenges.

“AIRTAD is an important platform in this national effort,” he said. “It reminds us that innovation does not only happen in laboratories or large corporations. It can begin in the classroom, the community, and in the mind of a determined student.”

He maintained that sustained reforms and strategic partnerships will ensure Ghanaian learners are equipped not only to seek employment, but to create opportunities for others.