The Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Barfour Awuah has disclosed that government is strategically planning to ensure the employment of about 1.2 million graduates from Senior High Schools as well as technical and vocational institutions.
According to Ignatius Barfour, unemployment is expected to grow in the short to medium term due to the success of the government’s free SHS program and the planned TVET for Senior High Technical Schools.
During the launch of a report by the World Bank on youth unemployment in Ghana, the Minister indicated that the mass intake of students in the Free SHS will see the rise of unemployment but the government is working hard to tackle the issue.
The Minister said the high patronage of the free SHS has compelled the government to find a lasting solution to the unemployment of second cycle graduates.
He continued, “More than 1.2 million young people will be graduating annually from second cycle institutions to enrol in tertiary education or training or move directly into the labour markets. This is an increase from the 800,000 students enrolled in secondary schools in 2016 adding that the efforts must therefore be doubled to ensure that employment opportunities exist for the products of our education and training institutions.”
“Government will partner with local and international entities to ensure the employment of young people,’’ he assured.
He said that the cassava enterprise project, national entrepreneurship plan, and presidential pitch are key examples of some interventions the government is using to provide jobs for young persons in the country.
The minister also encouraged the youth to enrol in agribusiness and also nurture people with entrepreneurship qualities.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Solomon Nartey
