An article by Emmanuel Teye Jnr
(CEO, Pinnacle Consult)
Each year, over 90,000 people graduate from Ghana's tertiary institutions, most of them without the relevant skills to secure a good job.
As at 2016, an unbelievable 61,568 graduates we're without jobs. The national unemployment situation stood at a staggering 6.77%.
All around the globe, unemployment, especially graduate unemployment has become a topical national security issue and forced siesmic political changes. In South Africa, xenophobic attacks are mainly attributed to foreign nationals allegedly taking over inadequate and sometimes non-existent jobs preserved for indegens. The Arab spring was occasioned by 31% unemployment in Tunisia.
And the United Nations security council has cited unemployment as one of the biggest threats to global peace.
Most of the smartest brains that ever walked the earth had but little to no education.
Albert Einstein, Abe Lincoln, Mark Twain, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, etc.
What could be the real solution to this debilitating crisis, exercerbated by the skyrocketing onset of Artificial intelligence and disruption?
My opinion is that, *the problem is in our education system.*
Many companies place a degree as a prima-fascie criteria for consideration for any job role. Yet even those who graduate from the university do not possess the basic skills required to function properly, think assertively and take initiative in an innovative manner, to properly fit into industry beyond functioning like robots.
A simple assessment of their performance on the job reveals there lack of competence to perform their jobs well, indicative of the Stark disconnect between what is considered as education and the real-world needs if Industry.
Meanwhile the only thing human beings can do better than robots is thinking. We have moved from the age of manpower to the age of mindpower!
At this pace, if we do not revisit our strategy, the unemployment rate is going to increase astronomically, with all it's attendant economic, security and social problems.
There are those who are smart and there are those who score better.
I still maintain, schooling is not education!
*Is a degree still relevant for success in the 21st century economy?*
What's your opinion?
Let's get interactive.
#GraduateUnemployment
#SchoolingIsNotEducation
#Pinnacle
3 Comments
Nice piece... I just have one question.
ReplyDeleteIf we believe schooling is not education in totality, why do we still blame the *schooling system*?
ReplyDeleteBy God ways Terk
1.The more education someone has, the more money he is likely to make during his life, *school* at least guarantees us that education. And being in school helps you learn how to deal with others, set goals and get things done and these are important skills we must possess.
2. I always blame the system regulator. The regulator is the God of the system.
3. In today'a world the essence of a higher education Uni Degree has become the measurement tool for one's intelligence, therefore if you wish to be paid by an employer then its a must otherwise you to equalise that with rich experience in a trade or vocation (even though in most cases this doesnt still compare to a degree)
4. Re-branding Sankofa is never a bad idea 😊. Certainly not all manner yesterday's certificate but definitely some of them. The mandate of Pre-Technical skills at basic levels in the past which has been diluted with modern names doesnt cut the deal for today's youth.
One more thing on education and schooling or higher education is: higher education can always be attained anytime in life but not basic education (which is compulsory for every child), Lil Win has a school, but he is largely considered an illiterate, but an illiterate has a school that educates masses, he didn't need a certificate to establish a school but he does have a little knowledge of how a school should ran and he comes on air saying he want to offer something different (an illiterate).
However, Lil Win will need to hire someone who has been through the school system, one with a certificate (a degree) to serve as administrator or director of the school.
My point is one does not need higher education to becomes absolutely successful, but one must grab a degree to get paid a higher salary.
😊
Oops nice one there
ReplyDelete