A MULTIDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION SYSTEM CAN ADDRESS UGANDA'S YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Over 70% of Uganda's population is below the age of 30 years. They face various socioeconomic challenges such as lack of access to dignified employment. In addressing the challenges that youths face at university, Dr. Daniel Ruhwenzo notes in his book, We Do Not Teach at the University, that our education system must embrace a multidisciplinary approach. I have interacted with university students whose sole focus is to pass exams so that they can get the "ideal job". But it seems times have changed. A university student can no longer afford to study for the sake of studying. Education is supposed to bring total transformation to the student. A student must be able to use his or her acquired skills to address community challenges. A student must have a critical and imaginative approach to the development of the world. The world is changing at a very terrific speed that even education policy makers are at a crossroads.

In a country where universities produce over 300,000 university graduates amidst a job creation rate of about 70,000 jobs, there is a total mismatch. In his book After University What Next, Ambrose Mukiibi highlights the dilemmas that a student faces after university. Throughout the book one is able to know why many of us struggle to get decent jobs after university. The former education system was bent on making us cram and pass exams and thinking that was a magic bullet to success in life. 

The above statistics are a wake up call for any youth that the sole responsibility for their success lies in self discovery and finding a unique direction in their life. The education system points to us that a student will need additional skills in any area. Who says that since one studied to be a lawyer he or she can not own a poultry farm? So many youths or graduates have limited their careers by limiting themselves to what they studied. Today's employer requires a person who is multiskilled. The era of judging a candidate's potential basing on their academic grades though important is reducing.

So education policy makers and development activists should consider enhancing a multidisciplinary approach to education so that the university graduates can become job creators rather than job seekers.


HOW TO ENHANCE YOUTH EMPLOYABILITY

1. Reorient education system towards skilling.

2.Mentorship and career guidance should be enhanced until university.

3.The youths should value vocational and technical education

4.Financial literacy training should be enhanced among the youths

5. Purpose discovery and life long learning are critical


Uganda's big youthful population can be a blessing if well nurtured. With over 30 universities that are producing over 300,000 graduates each year, it seems a multidisciplinary approach is a step in the right direction to overcoming unemployment among the youths.


Phillip Kiryowa

Finance and Leadership Coach

+256752615916 

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