Leyden Educational Foundation to roll out about 3,000 free online courses for youth

Leyden Educational Foundation has introduced an Integrated Online Learning Program aimed at equipping Ghanaian youth with the requisite skills for work in the 21st century.

The program, which is made up of about 3,000 free courses would target Senior High School (SHS) leavers, undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as businessmen and women.

In an interview with Joojo Bediako on Citi FM’s Sunday night show, Beauty for Ashes, the Executive Director of Leyden, Dr. James Owusu, said that the rate of youth unemployment in the country was alarming, for which reason his Foundation was determined to establish the project.

The discussion was hinged on the topic, ‘The Believer’s Skills Set Today’.

According to him, the academic institutions in the country are not producing enough graduates who meet the demands of employers in recent times, hence the need to “revise our curriculum to ensure that our young people graduate with skills”.

Dr. Owusu also called on the government, management of tertiary institutions, and employers to work together to ensure that students are well-equipped with relevant knowledge and skills in their diverse fields of study.

The Integrated Online Learning Program is a joint effort between Leyden Educational Foundation and Alison.

It was launched last Monday, February 14, 2022, at the University of Ghana, Legon, by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

The center for the learning of the program is based at the Information Access Center (IAC), located on the campus of the University, and would be open to anyone interested in taking the courses.

Dr. Owusu said that steps had been initiated to set up other centers in the rural parts of the country, adding that volunteers would be trained to help monitor the progress of participants in such areas.

This initiative would expose Ghanaian youth to a modern way of teaching and learning. Additionally, globally accepted certificates would be issued to participants after completion of the courses.