Bono Regional Minister advocates education curricula to meet current demands
The Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addai Akwaboa, has challenged policymakers to tailor the education curricula to train pupils and students to fit into the demands of the 21st Century.
He stated that since education was not just a pathway to employment but also an engine of development, the current routine way of learning must give way to one which embraces innovation, critical thinking and entrepreneurship.
“The education that has brought us this far may not take us any further unless we intentionally adapt it to the demands of the 21st century,” Mr Akwaboa admitted.
He was addressing delegates of the Seventh Quadrennial/54th Conference of the Brong Ahafo branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in Sunyani last Thursday.
The Brong Ahafo branch of GNAT comprises members of the association from the Bono, Bono East and the Ahafo regions.
The three-day conference was held on the theme: “Educating an African fit for the 21st Century: The role of policy makers.”
Technological literacy
Mr Akwaboa stated that: “The African we seek to educate today must be technologically literate, critically minded, ethically grounded and globally competitive, yet deeply rooted in African values and identity”.
He explained that as the world became more digital, policy makers must expand access to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure, especially in rural and underserved communities, so that no child is left behind, regardless of location or background.
Mr Akwaboa said education must be aligned with Ghana’s development needs, adding that: “Our policies must create a strong link between the classroom and the job market—especially in technical, vocational and agricultural sectors”.
Educational policies, according to him, must ensure that girls, children with disabilities and marginalised communities have equal access to quality education.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, an educationist, Dr Victor deGraft-Etsison, acknowledged teachers as the most vital resource in Ghana’s education system.
He, therefore, called on policy makers to prioritise the continuous professional development programmes that equipped them with the latest pedagogical techniques, digital skills and subject matter expertise.
Dr deGraft-Etsison, who is the Director, Continuous Development of GNAT Institute for Research and Industrial Relations Studies, called for fair remuneration, improved working conditions and creation of an environment where teachers felt valued, respected and empowered to innovate.
He explained that it was only when teachers were adequately equipped, resourced and motivated that they would be in a position to train students to respond to the demands of the 21st Century.
The Bono Regional Director of Education, Gabriel Antwi, expressed worry about the upsurge of examination malpractices which he said had made students to become obtuse and parrots who were not intelligent — merely copying others without thinking.
He admonished teachers who engaged in examination malpractice to desist from the act and rather build and nurture the Ghanaian youth to be fit for the 21st century.
“I urge the leadership of GNAT to continue engaging constructively with policy makers at all levels to build an education system that is responsive, resilient and robust," he said.
