The Ministry of Education has
recommended a drastic reduction in the number of subjects studied at basic schools to not more than five subjects, Deputy Minister Samuel
Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, the
Ministry considers the current
curricular at the basic level to be “too
high.”
Basic Education in Ghana, which is
free and compulsory, lasts 11 years.
Pupils between age 4-15-years are
mandated to learn at least 10- in
some cases 12- subjects at that level.
These include English Language,
Ghanaian Language and Culture,
Social Studies, Integrated Science,
Mathematics, Basic, Design and
Technology, Information and
Communication Technology, French
(optional), Religious and Moral
Education.
However, speaking on Ghana Connect
on Joy FM, Friday, Mr. Ablakwa said
the curricular is undergoing a
thorough review in order to cut down
on the number of subjects to at most
five. A public announcement to that
effect is likely to be made latest by
the end of September, he stated.
President of the Ghana Mathematics
Society, Prof. Sitsofe Anku, who
featured on the programme had
expressed worry about the number of
courses taught at the basic level,
thereby leaving pupils with little or
no time to put to practice what they
learnt in the classroom.
He, therefore, suggested the general
review of the curricula to suit the
geographical location of schools
where pupils can readily find time to
rehearse what they are taught when
school is not in session.
“We make things look like there is no
time because of the way things are
structured. But there is a lot of time
wasted; before you go and start the
class you spend about 10 minutes to
settle; the period is 30 minutes, and
then you teach for 15 minutes, and
it’s about time to go. How much are
you going to do with these 15
minutes?”
The Deputy Minister in a response
said the Professor’s assessment of
the situation reflected exactly that of
the sector Minister, Prof. Naana Jane
Opoku Agyemang, who has already
tasked a committee to review the
system.
“Indeed, these are views that we
share at the Ministry [of Education],
and my Boss have already put forward
her proposal. She doesn’t think there
should be more than five subjects at
the basic level [and that] the current
10 to 12 subjects are too high.
“She has left it for an independent
committee…which is looking at the
general curriculum and other
pedagogical matters. We believe that
by the end of this month [September
2014] we will make a pronouncement
on this, and then we’ll call a larger
stakeholders’ meeting on this.”
Mr. Ablakwa said government is
“careful not to really tinker with the
core issues which may unnecessarily
distabilise the students in school”
since the education system has
already “seen too many reviews.”
The strategy this round is to commit stakeholders to sign an agreement, if reached, to compel future
governments to uphold the standard, he added.
“After we’ve looked at all of these
quality issues we will convene a
stakeholders’ conference…and we
hope that we will all sign a
commitment that whichever forms a government in the near future will be able to maintain what has been agreed.”
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