Ghana is changing its sheer memorization method of teaching and learning also known as “chew and pour” in schools across the country. On Thursday, September 22, Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum raised these concerns when he was speaking at the ‘Transforming Education’ Summit at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly. And here is what he said (Show video preview)
“We have tamed the children, we just want them to write down what we tell them, at the day of the exam they should put down what we have told them and say, you are the best student the country has seen.” According to the minister, this kind of education system would not give us the critical thinkers we need to transform Ghana.
These same concerns were highlighted by Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann in a TED talk she gave 3years ago on engineering education in Ghana. Let’s take a look (Show excerpts of TED talk) you can watch the full video is in the description below.
So, in response to this, the government is laying down new measures including the construction of the country’s first ultramodern Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) academy in Accra, which would ensure that students are equipped with the skill and ability to think through and generate innovative ideas that would birth the needed technological development in the country
Some of the newly built STEM schools like the Bosomtwe Girls STEM School and the Technical and Vocational Education Training School at East Legon are currently operational with other schools receiving new computer science laboratories and equipment. The minister also announced that the government is committed to establishing 20 STEM centers, and 10 model STEM Senior High Schools across the country.
The need for African schools to adopt a curriculum that empowers the African child cannot be over-emphasized and the effort the minister is taking deserves applause.
In these modern times, many approaches to teaching a child how to think have been devised and it is high time Ghana and Africa as a continent start training students to develop the skillset that fit the needs of our economy. I am excited that Ghana is embracing a new system that aligns with the needs of our economy.
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below. Thank you.
