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The virtual convocation of the first graduates of the Commonwealth of Learning (CoL) and Coursera Workforce Recovery Programme has been held.
Of the over 2,000 Africans who graduated from their respective selected online courses, Ghana topped the list, producing a total of 1,200 of the graduates.

Commonwealth of Learning and Coursera entered into a partnership with the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) to rollout an initiative to support Ghanaians to enroll on over 3,800 carefully curated courses online delivered by top universities and companies.

The initiative
The initiative seeks to offer 50,000 Commonwealth citizens an opportunity to attain new skills to enhance job prospects in this COVID-19 period.

The project, launched in May 2020 by the CoL and Coursera, already has 12,227 Ghanaians enrolled.

In a speech delivered for him, the Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh said government was committed to continuing its efforts to make public libraries lively and connected spaces for life-long learning.

He indicated “Our public libraries across the country will continue to be supported as we have done over the past few years and make them connected and lively spaces for life-long learning.

“We are currently equipping public libraries with computers and connecting them to internet to enable them offer more opportunities for our citizens who do not have their own devices and computers to also benefit,” Dr. Prempeh said.

Take advantage
Dr Prempeh advised the selected Ghanaians to make use of the opportunity, saying “I wish to encourage all Ghanaians who have been selected to commit to completing their course modules, assignments and most importantly, acquire new skills to make you relevant for the job market or start your own enterprises.”

Speaking on the convocation, the Executive Director of the Ghana Library Authority – Mr. Hayford Siaw said, “The GhLA will continuously ensure that Ghanaians have access to opportunities for self-development to enable them become attractive on the job market, especially during this pandemic period.”

He stated that he was excited Ghana had the highest number of beneficiaries on the programme and looked forward to working with CoL and other development partners to offer more of such opportunities.

Participants
Joining in the convocation were the President and CEO of CoL, Professor Asha Kanwar; the Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda; the Botswana Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr. Douglas Letsholathebe; and the Namibia Minister of Art, Education and Culture, Ms. Esther Anna Nghipondoka.