Priorities In Ghana’s Education

News Commentary On Priorities in Ghana’s Education

Written By Jonas Anbazu, Former Assistant Registrar, University for Development Studies, Wa

The year 2022 is gone and Ghana’s Educational Sector was one areas that was left in a severe turbulence. Various Unions across the country were on strike and Unions of some Educational Institutions were no exception. The issues these Unions raised appeared not to have been resolved totally, and if care is not taken there is the  likeliness of the turbulence in the Education Sector  spilling  over into 2023. Above all, what then is the focus of Ghana’s education policies, strategies and priorities?  Are these implementable? And how are we implementing these goals? For once, can Ghana have a permanent,  non-politically tainted  Education  system  driven by a sound nationalistic vision?

Ghana’s problem is the impact of constant changes in educational policies and priorities. Arguably, some of these changes add little or nothing at all to the standards of teaching and learning.

Indeed? Ghana’s Educational Sector needs to be delinked from politics, by allowing professionals  to run the system without undue political interferences. Ghana needs the right people with the right attitude and approach to education,  than the adhoc cosmetic policies on education that every political party that wants to lead. Times are hard, harsh and hazy in the  Education.  Former UN Secretary General, late Kofi Annan said “Education is, quite simply, peace-building by another name.  It is the most effective form of defense spending there is.” And “What governments and people do not realise is that sometimes the collective interest – the international interest – is the national interest.”

In Ghana we have the means and the capacity to deal with educational problems, if only we can find the political will. A thorough analysis of the various policies, and practices suggest a chequered educational development, fraught with  challenges. An enduring educational system for Ghana  seems to be eluding us with formidable shortages in resources and infrastructure. Several educational ordinances saw evolution from 1852, through1882,  then 1887, 1908, 1920,1925,1930,1937, and 1942. Accelerated Development of 1951 all came into force. In the midst of abundance, there is no good choice. Ghana needs a stable educational system that will chart our development without hiccups.

A peep into the Lessons of Governor Guggisberg announced in 1925 to the Legislative Council, provided  16 principles of education which are still workable today. For instance the ninth principle, called for the need to produce students who were Western in intellectual attitude towards life, with a respect for science and the  capacity for systematic thought. The tenth principle says,  that a course of every school should include special references to health, welfare and industries of the locality.Whereas, the twelveth principle said, English education must be given in vernacular of the people, the sixteenth principle  said, education is from “the cradle to the grave”,  that is from pre-school to technical and university degree education, must  respect traditional and western values.

Respectfully, drumming and dancing, traditional attire were the norm in schools. In the 1950s, schools owed by local authorities involved stakeholders to make decisions that were binding. Undoubtedly this hybrid approach was inclusive of schools administration. In the good old days, the school child was a community property in line with UN Convention on the rights of the child.  We need to create education, that is collaborative and consultative to block interferences.

Lessons can be drawn from Cuba, in education system crafting. In 1960 at the UN General Assembly, Legendary Fidel Castro, announced the launch of a year-long campaign to fight iliteracy in Cuba.  Returning to Cuba, President Castro took key role in free nationalised education, when less than half of the children had access to education. Today, the Island has the highest literacy rate in the world.

Let us understand that there is nothing like free education. Guggisberg’s 13th Principle on education said education is neither  compulsory nor free based on the circumstances at the time, noting it will take time to have the number of teachers and funding.  Education comes with cost, with complementary returns from the citizens, such as national service and community and social service to the nation in return. The challenges in the education front in 2022, far outweighed the successes chalked up so to say. The various reforms have hanged, probably to suggest emphasis need to be addressed to confront the challenges.

Martin Luther King once said, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

Unemployment increases each year, due to the graduates churned out from the Universities. To Set up  a shared vision for education and establish a direction; we need an all-inclusive educational system and the courage to talk about what is right, in the best interest of the country and the people who will  leave a legacy for posterity. There is no perfection on mother earth. In spite of the challenges, the free SHS is good and has afforded Free SHS to many millions of children as well as  bridging the gender parity gap and enrolment. The Government must however involve parents, unions and all significant others in taking the system to the next level. There is no absolute free education anywhere and this must be made clear to our politicians.

Finally, the 16th Principle made provision for trade schools with a technical and literary education that will fit young men and women to become skilled craftsmen and useful citizens.  Technical Universities Act 2016 Act 922 has been long overdue. Strikes do not necessarily resolve matters. Ghanaians needs industrial harmony, especially in education.   The Government needs to follow road maps drawn for our  Educational implementations and  Managers must agree to work with such  road maps. Simply put, the government should be bold and eat a humble pie that the load is heavy. Anything short of this, education will continue to suffer. Kofi Annan  once  said “Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development”, and he needed not to have said enough.