Unemployment: Stephen Amoah advocates inclusion of entrepreneurship in JHS and SHS curricula

Dr. Stephen Amoah, has called for the immediate integration of entrepreneurship into Ghana’s Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) academic curricula as a strategic response to rising graduate unemployment and youth-related social challenges.

Presenting a statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Dr. Amoah described entrepreneurship as a critical driver of global economic transformation and urged the Ministry of Education to expedite steps toward making it a core subject at the basic level and an elective at the secondary level.

“Entrepreneurship empowers individuals to become job creators rather than job seekers,” he told the House, stressing that Ghana’s current employment landscape requires bold structural reforms in education.

Rising Graduate Unemployment
Dr. Amoah cited data from the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), which indicates that only about 10 percent of Ghanaian graduates secure employment within one year of graduation. He further noted that some graduates spend up to five years searching for employment.

According to him, with nearly 110,000 students graduating from universities annually, the country risks adding close to 100,000 unemployed graduates to the labour market each year.

“This trend is unsustainable and poses serious socio-economic risks,” he warned, linking youth unemployment to growing insecurity, robbery, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, and other social vulnerabilities.

Entrepreneurship as a Strategic Solution
The MP emphasized that globally, the private sector remains the engine of economic growth, driven largely by entrepreneurial innovation. From technological advancements to industrial revolutions, entrepreneurs have consistently shaped modern economies.

He argued that Ghana must deliberately cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among its youth to unlock the country’s vast natural and commercial potential.

“A developing economy such as Ghana, endowed with a wide range of natural resources, presents enormous opportunities for enterprise development. However, without a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, we continue to underutilize these opportunities,” he stated.

Proposal for Curriculum Reform
Dr. Amoah proposed that:

Entrepreneurship be introduced as a core subject at the Junior High School level to instill creativity, innovation, and business literacy early.

Entrepreneurship be offered as a structured elective at the Senior High School level, incorporating practical training and mentorship.

He noted that integrating entrepreneurship into the educational framework would reduce over-reliance on public sector employment and stimulate small and medium enterprise (SME) growth.

Call to Action
The MP urged the Ministry of Education and relevant educational authorities to take urgent action toward curriculum reform.

“Entrepreneurship, if well integrated into our education system, will not only boost job creation but also strengthen Ghana’s economic sovereignty and reduce our import dependence,” he concluded.