Managers of Ghana’s education system make decisions without research
Mr. Peter Partey Anti, Executive Director of the Institute for Education Service has taken a swipe at the managers of Ghana’s education system.
He cited that most of their decisions lack the very detailed research required which causes avoidable hitches in the sector.
Mr. Anti was speaking in relation to Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum directive that the academic calendar of public schools is reverted from the semester system to the trimester system.
Also, on the eve of the resumption of schools across the country, the Ghana National Association of Teachers(GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana (CCT-GH) and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) – forming the Unions in Education – kicked against the move citing no knowledge about the decision.
“Such a major policy change should have attracted a wide consultation and therefore find both the pronouncement and the document offensive and takes exception to them,” they had said.
Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Education and endorsed by its Press Secretary Felix Baidoo, “After further consultation on the issue, the Honourable Minister for Education has directed that the calendar for kindergarten to Junior High School for the current academic year should revert to the Trimester system.”
As a result, the first term will run for 12 weeks from Tuesday, January 18 to Thursday, April 14.
There will be about three weeks of vacation ahead of the second term, which begins from Tuesday, May 10 till Thursday, August 18. The final term will run from Tuesday, September 13 to Thursday, December 22.
The GES on Thursday, January 13 announced new dates for the reopening of public schools from kindergarten to senior high schools.
Mr. Peter Partey Anti pointed out that “Educational Policies that issues that you need a lot of thinking through and before you try to put it out. The Educational policies, when implemented, have lasting effects on the students.
In fact, even when it comes to curriculum reforms, the standard practice is that you have to do it within a five year period before you try to change a curriculum to suit the changing dynamics in society.
“You do not just get up one day and say that you feel there is a system already in place and you feel that you will want to change the system without going through the rigorous process of policy deliberations.
“It hurts so much that in a sector that holds answer to the transformation agenda of this country, a sector that we can use to develop the human capital-base of this country, we turn to resort to decisions not based on facts, not based on research nothing at all, but based on our personal beliefs and desires and aspirations.”
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
