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The ��ɫ��Ƶ (UEW), Ghana’s premier teacher education institution, became the stage for a profound national conversation on the future of education when renowned leadership expert and author, Dr. Samuel Koranteng-Pipim delivered a powerful address on the theme, "Empowering Minds, Shaping Futures: The Prospects and Challenges of Ghana’s 21st Century Education."

Speaking to a packed auditorium of dignitaries, academics, university administrators, students, and the media, Dr. Koranteng-Pipim issued a stirring call to action for a radical transformation of Ghana’s education system—urging stakeholders to shift from a certificate-oriented model to one that empowers minds for national development and global relevance.

“Education should not be a factory line producing certificates. It should be a furnace refining minds for useful service in today’s world—and the world to come,” he declared.

Using data from the Ghana Statistical Service and UNESCO, Dr. Koranteng-Pipim painted a sobering picture of the current state of Ghanaian education. He cited that 23% of tertiary-educated graduates face long-term unemployment and nearly 80% of children by age 10 cannot read and understand a simple sentence. “We are teaching the 21st century using a 19th-century model,” he lamented, critiquing outdated curricula, lack of innovation and a disconnect between academia and industry.

Highlighting challenges such as bloated theoretical syllabi, low creativity, and what he termed “mental colonisation,” Dr. Koranteng-Pipim advocated for incorporating indigenous knowledge, Afrocentric curricula, entrepreneurship, and practical skills such as STEM, AI and digital literacy.

He emphasised the urgent need to prepare students not just for jobs but for leadership, innovation, and public service. “Degrees do not equal competence; we produce job seekers, not job creators,” he noted.