As Ghana celebrates the International Day of Education, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called on the new Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu to urgently address the ongoing challenges facing the education sector head-on.
In an interview with Adom News, GNAT’s General Secretary, Thomas Musah, underlined the critical role pre-tertiary education plays in laying the foundation for quality teaching and learning.
He stressed that this sector should be a top priority for the new minister, as it is key to the country’s educational future.
Mr. Musah outlined several pressing issues, from the allocation of resources to pre-tertiary education to the need for improvements in teaching and learning materials, school feeding programmes, and the operations of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
However, his focus was especially on the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme, which has been a landmark initiative in Ghana’s education system.
Acknowledging the success of the Free SHS programme in increasing access to education, he emphasized that ensuring the programme’s sustainability requires a sharp focus on three crucial areas: access, quality and management.
While access to education has expanded significantly, the quality of education and the effective management of resources have not received the attention they deserve.
He pointed out that, while access has been addressed, maintaining high standards of education and ensuring proper management are still areas that need urgent intervention.
For the programme to continue thriving, resources must be allocated wisely and equitably, Mr. Musah explained, with a specific focus on supporting underfunded areas and ensuring effective distribution.
Looking ahead, GNAT called for an approach that prioritizes equity across all levels of education, to ensure that the sector is not only accessible but also capable of delivering quality outcomes for every student.
Touching on the theme for the International Day of Education, GNAT General Secretary questioned the readiness of the country to embrace AI in doing things.
The theme for this year’s celebration is AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation”.
This year’s International Day of Education is significant for Ghana’s education landscape. It serves as a platform to reflect on progress made in achieving SDG 4 while addressing challenges such as access disparities for marginalized groups like girls and children with special educational needs.
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