Dr Clement Abas Apaak is the Deputy Minister of Education
The Deputy Education Minister, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, has urged that Ghana’s education system must shift its focus toward producing job creators instead of job seekers.
He made the remarks during a speech at the ‘Impact Roundtable Discussion and Robotics Competition (AIRTAD)’ at the University of Ghana on Saturday February 28,2026, where he outlined the government’s vision for preparing students for the future.
Apaak said education reforms must respond to rapid technological changes and the evolving demands of the labour market.
“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 emphasis on STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, is key to building leadership and innovation capacity among young people.
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“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 stressed that the goal of education should go beyond employability to include entrepreneurship and innovation.
“We also produce job creators. Young people who can identify problems in their communities and build solutions that improve lives,” Apaak added.
Apaak disclosed that the government plans to introduce a SmartStart Curriculum aimed at strengthening the integration of STEAM, coding, digital literacy, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) into basic education.
“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.
Apaak also highlighted the importance of hands-on learning platforms that connect students to real-world challenges.
“AIRTAD is an important platform in this national effort. 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 said.
He maintained that sustained reforms and strong partnerships will help ensure Ghanaian learners are equipped not only to seek employment but also to create opportunities for others.
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Source:
www.ghanaweb.com