Sam Jonah, a prominent Ghanaian business leader and Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, has issued a stark critique of Africa's education system. He warns that the continent is producing graduates who possess academic certificates but lack the practical skills essential for economic transformation.
Speaking at the installation of Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast on Saturday, August 1, Jonah emphasized the urgent need for universities to redefine their role. He highlighted that artificial intelligence (AI) can now outperform humans in many knowledge-based tasks, making traditional knowledge transmission insufficient.
This critique comes at a time when Ghana, like many African nations, is striving for industrialization and job creation. The lack of practical skills among graduates can hinder economic growth and make it difficult for industries to find suitable talent. This issue contributes to high youth unemployment rates and underemployment across the continent.
“I say this with love, but I must say it: too many of our graduates leave university having memorised much and built little,” Jonah stated. He used an analogy from education consultant Anis Haffar, noting that a student could achieve top grades in music theory yet be unable to play a simple tune. This illustrates the disconnect between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Jonah further elaborated on the widespread nature of this problem across Africa. He described a scenario where graduates can describe agriculture but cannot grow a tomato, or define entrepreneurship but have never sold anything. He stressed that "knowledge of a thing is not the ability to do the thing." A nation of people who know but cannot do will remain poor, despite being "beautifully certificated."
The rise of artificial intelligence fundamentally changes the purpose of universities, according to Jonah. He noted that answers and information are now readily available, making the traditional role of universities as knowledge transmitters obsolete. “If our answer is: ‘to transmit knowledge’ — then we are finished, because a machine now does that better, faster and cheaper than we ever will,” he warned.
Instead, Jonah urged universities to focus on developing qualities that machines cannot replicate. He believes the university's greatest century will come if its purpose is to "form human beings who can do what no machine can do." This shift in focus is crucial for preparing graduates for a rapidly evolving global job market.
Jonah dismissed the debate over "useless degrees," asserting that the problem lies in degrees being separated from usefulness. He called for their reunification. He proposed that the University of Cape Coast lead the way by establishing Africa's first degree-awarding faculty dedicated to vocational education. Students would graduate from this faculty only after demonstrating real-world competence.
To achieve this, Jonah advocated for project-based learning, stronger partnerships with industry, and the integration of artificial intelligence across all academic disciplines. He believes these measures will ensure that graduates possess both the certificate and the competence needed to contribute meaningfully to society. He concluded with a challenge to universities, stating that Africa's future depends on producing graduates who create value, not just collect qualifications.