University of Lomé launches vocational training for students
The University of Lomé's new 'One Student, One Profession' program aims to combat graduate unemployment by offering vocational workshops.
The University of Lomé, led by President Professor Kossivi Hounake, announced the official launch of its "One Student, One Profession" program for the 2026-2027 academic year. This initiative, linked to the government's 2026-2031 roadmap, aims to tackle youth unemployment among graduates and promote entrepreneurship.
However, the program has sparked significant public and academic criticism, with many viewing it as a demeaning intellectual and social downgrade for students. Critics point to overcrowded lecture halls, inadequate teaching equipment, and a shortage of lecturers as pressing issues that need addressing before vocational training is introduced. Students are already struggling to access fundamental knowledge due to these conditions.
The university is proposing workshops in areas like laundry services, soap making, and hairdressing, which critics argue are redundant given existing technical and vocational training centers in Togo. This move is seen by some as a deliberate attempt to lower the ambitions of students, offering them basic subsistence activities as the outcome of higher education.
Why it mattersStudents at the University of Lomé will now spend afternoons in vocational workshops instead of focusing solely on academic studies.