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Opinions of Thursday, 6 July 2023

Columnist: Maxwell Baah

The rot in Ghana's educational system - Challenges and solutions

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Ghana's education system has long been a topic of concern due to the numerous challenges it faces. Despite efforts to improve the quality of education, the system continues to grapple with various issues that hinder students' development and the country's overall progress. In this article, we will explore the key problems plaguing Ghana's education system and propose potential solutions to address these issues. In the first place, the lack of adequate infrastructure is one of the major challenges facing Ghana's education system. Many schools, especially in rural areas, suffer from overcrowded classrooms, inadequate furniture, and a lack of proper sanitation facilities. This shortage of resources negatively impacts the learning environment and hinders effective teaching and learning. In addressing the above mentioned issue, the Ghanaian government should allocate more funds towards building and renovating schools, especially in remote areas. Additionally, public-private partnerships can be encouraged to invest in educational infrastructure, ensuring a conducive learning environment for students. Low quality of education has been one of the many underlying conditions of the rot in Ghana's education system. The quality of education provided in Ghana has been a concern for years. Many teachers are underqualified and lack the necessary training to effectively impart knowledge to their students. Moreover, outdated teaching methods and a rigid curriculum hinder the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. Implementing comprehensive teacher training programs and continuous professional development can help improve the skills and knowledge of educators. The curriculum should be regularly reviewed and updated to incorporate modern teaching methodologies, promote creativity, and foster critical thinking among students. Additionally, inadequate access to education is a core factor for the rot in Ghana's education system. Access to education is not evenly distributed across Ghana, with rural and disadvantaged communities often facing barriers to education. Children in these areas are more likely to drop out of school due to factors such as poverty, early marriages, and child labour. In our quest to tackle the issue at hand, the government and relevant stakeholders should prioritize efforts to improve access to education for marginalized communities. This can be achieved through the establishment of more schools in remote areas, the provision of scholarships and financial assistance to needy students, and awareness campaigns to address cultural practices that hinder children's education. Examination malpractices is another ugly monster which tends to undermine the education system of Ghana. Examination malpractices are a persistent problem in Ghana's education system. Cheating during examinations not only undermines the integrity of the education system but also affects the credibility of certificates issued to students. In an attempt to save the situation, we must deliberately strengthen our examination processes and ensure strict enforcement of anti-cheating measures are essential. This can involve the use of advanced technology in examinations monitoring, increasing supervision during exams, and imposing severe penalties for those found guilty of malpractices. In furtherance, insufficient funding is a recurring issue in Ghana's education sector. Despite the government's efforts to allocate funds to education, the budget may not be enough to meet the system's needs adequately. In dealing with the above problem, the government should prioritize education in its budget allocation and explore alternative sources of funding, such as partnerships with international organizations and private sector contributions. Ensuring that education receives adequate funding is vital for sustaining and improving the quality of the system. Addressing the rot in Ghana's education system requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach. By tackling issues such as inadequate infrastructure, low-quality education, limited access to education, examination malpractices, and inadequate funding, the government can lay the foundation for a stronger and more effective education system. With a well-functioning education system, Ghana can empower its youth, enhance workforce productivity, and drive socioeconomic development in the country.

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Global Education Monitoring Report

Press release

Ministry of Education commits to prioritising five key policy areas to improve children’s learning in Ghana

Accra, 12 October 2020 – The Ministry of Education has today launched a new report providing an in-depth, topical analysis of foundational learning in primary education in Ghana. Entitled Spotlight on Basic Education Completion and Foundational Learning: Ghana , it is one of five country reports and a continental report on Africa produced in partnership with UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA). Launched along with a campaign supported by the Ministry, #BorntoLearn, this new initiative offers a diagnosis of the current state of foundational education in Ghana and identifies policy solutions that are critical for improving educational outcomes for all students in the country.

The report celebrates the great progress made toward accessible, high-quality education in Ghana. New data shows that 77% of children are now completing primary school, a figure considerably higher than 57%, where it stood two decades ago. Since 2017, the country has pursued ambitious reforms, including the introduction of free senior high school for all pupils, and the innovative ‘one teacher, one laptop’ scheme introduced to ease the burden which the COVID-19 pandemic placed upon the education system. The report also notes the recent transformation of the Ghanaian approach to pedagogy, which places collaborative, student-centred learning at the forefront of curriculum.

Despite this progress, the report finds that significant challenges regarding the quality of education, remain prevalent. The majority of children (almost 80%) still do not acquire basic skills in literacy and numeracy by the time they reach the end of primary school. The report identifies the inconsistent delivery of education across the country as a particularly detrimental issue, with public schools in disadvantaged and rural areas bearing the brunt of weak provision.

The recommendations of the report have been designed with both the recent positive developments to the Ghanaian education system, and its ongoing challenges, in mind. They are structured around five key policy areas which are identified as having the potential to strengthen and improve learning in Ghana:

Improve teacher and school training: Introduce structured materials and support for professional learning sessions focusing on phonics and teaching at the right level. Provide structured, on-the-job education leadership training for all basic education schools.
Invest in more textbooks: Ensure that textbooks and other teaching and learning materials reach classrooms.
Look at innovative funding mechanisms: Explore new resourcing mechanisms for basic education, including results-based financing.
Enhance coordination across government: Assist Regional, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Education Offices to prioritize objectives and oversee their achievement, providing supportive supervision to this end.
Encourage local involvement : Consider ways of decentralizing decision making and enhancing local accountability.

Knowing how to read, write and make basic maths calculations sets the groundwork for success in school and beyond. Our vision in Ghana is for all learners to have these important skills when they finish primary school. There is still much work to be done, this is why the process through Spotlight is so critical in identifying the policy areas that we need to focus on to ensure we deliver the best educational outcomes for children and young people in Ghana

If children are equipped with foundational skills in mathematics and reading from an early age, they are more likely to reach their potential later in school and in life. The Spotlight Reports have looked at the positive practices happening in Ghana and across the continent to improve children’s learning. A new peer-learning mechanism has been launched alongside this report hosted by the AU called the ‘Leveraging Education Analysis for Results Network (LEARN)’. We look forward to Ghana participating and sharing with other countries on the continent the lessons they have learnt as they have implemented their own policies on foundational literacy and numeracy

About the Global Education Monitoring Report:

Established in 2002, the GEM Report is an editorially independent report, hosted and published by UNESCO to monitor progress on education in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and monitor the implementation of national and international strategies to help hold all relevant partners to account for their commitments.

About the Spotlight report

The Spotlight on Primary Education and Foundational Learning in Africa report, Born to Learn, is the result of a partnership between the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report, the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and the African Union. The report, which was launched alongside the #BorntoLearn campaign, analyses the current situation of foundational learning, recognises ongoing challenges, and identifies key policy solutions to improve the access to, and quality of, education across Africa.

# Born to Learn Campaign

The Minister of Education of Ghana has supported the #BorntoLearn launching alongside the report, showing his support for the recommendations in the publication and calling for others to do so too.

Media Contacts:

Kate Redman, UNESCO Paris. Tel: +33 671786234 [email protected]

Gina Dafalia, UNESCO. Tel: +447375318760 [email protected]