Re-structuring of the Educational System: A Panacea for Youth Unemployment in Africa

Abstract

Many developing and developed countries of the world are faced with the challenge of high level of skilled or literate youth unemployment. In developed economies, it has been ascribed to factors like capital-intensive production, labour market regulation and general welfare benefits. However, in most African countries, it has been attributed to the fact that the educational system does not create enough skills in the graduates to meet the requirements in the world of work, lack of employment opportunities, amongst others. It is the candid opinion of the authors of this paper that the educational system be re-organised and used as an engine of change for job creation. This can be done by modifying the curricula of studies in higher education institutions in such a way that the gap between formal academic skills and the needs of the workplace is bridged; introducing Entrepreneurship education in the educational system at an early stage so that students at the secondary school level may appreciate the benefits and grow up to be employers of labour and ultimate wealth creators and finally, putting in place, right policies and incentives that will benefit both the institutions and the educated youths who have an entrepreneurial mind set to grow the economy.

Keywords: Educational system, Skills, Entrepreneurship, Youth, Africa