The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has urged universities to prioritise digital skills training for students approaching graduation to improve their preparedness for the job market.
He said scheduling specialised digital courses closer to graduation would ensure that students left their institutions with current knowledge, relevant certifications and practical skills they could immediately apply in their professions.
Speaking during an engagement with the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in the Volta Region, Hon. Sam George said the One Million Coders Programme (OMCP) should complement academic training by providing industry-relevant competencies.
He proposed that universities introduce basic digital literacy courses during students’ early years on campus, while more advanced training should be undertaken in the final stages of their studies.
“I’m happy with the way you’re trying to segregate it; do the literacy bits at the early stages of campus, but as they’re about to be 400 or 600, let’s begin to make them do those courses,” he said.
The minister explained that the approach would allow students to graduate with fresh certifications and knowledge that reflected current workplace demands.
He noted that digital competencies had become increasingly important across professional fields, including healthcare, engineering, law, education and agriculture.
According to him, graduates must understand technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and data management to complement the specialised knowledge acquired through their degree programmes.
Hon. Samuel Nartey George said the OMCP was designed to bridge the gap between university education and the practical requirements of employment.
He encouraged UHAS to integrate the programme into its academic structure, adding that the Ministry was pursuing similar partnerships with other universities.
The Minister also stressed the importance of monitoring student participation and the effective use of laptops provided to support the programme.
He said the government would consider additional resources for institutions that demonstrated strong demand and effective implementation.
The engagement was held during the Ministry’s two-day working tour of the Volta Region with GIFEC to inspect One Million Coders Programme centres and rural telephony sites.
