Consultant calls for radical education reforms in Ghana
Mr Grant Belnuo, an Education, has called for radical reforms and restructuring in Ghana’s teacher training process to make meaningful impact in the educational sector.
“Our teacher training process and institutions are outdated and not fit for the purpose. Most of the trainers themselves are out of touch with the future and the challenges the 21st Century learner is likely to face when he/she leaves school,” he said.
Mr Belmuo who stated this in a research released to the Ghana News Agency(GNA) added that the current trend of training was not helpful and called for alternatives that would introduce modern education systems taking into consideration geographical location and cultural variables.
He appealed to the National Inspectorate Board of the Ministry of Education to step up their monitoring and evaluation programmes to ensure that the right recommendations are made for the betterment of education in the country.
Mr Belmuo who christened his release as “The Octopus on Roller skates” said the current state of education, particularly in the private sector where decisions were determined by owners of schools and not educational professionals was injurious to the standards of Ghana’s education.
He said the national Inspectorate Board would also need to be adequately resourced to monitor various systems that would enhance acceptable levels of education.
He added: “Every school in Ghana does what they believe is the way forward. There are several uncoordinated efforts and initiatives without control and regulations – this is a typical behaviour of OCTOPUS ON ROLLER SKATES.”
He called for an independent National Inspectorate Board that would not be answerable to the Ministry of Education, but to either the President or Parliament to be able to perform creditable.
He also called for the engagement of renowned educationalist, who would be able to contribute meaningfully in the education field to be part of the National Inspectorate Board to deliver professionally.
Mr Belmuo said students at various institutions especially private sector were given many things to study at tender age and added that it was not the number of subjects or things that they studied that mattered but their rate of understanding to utilize such teachings in future.
“A country where money does the talking, the educational experts (the headteacher, psychologist,classroom teacher) have no say when it comes to the educational bearing and direction of their school. The investors and directors call the shots,” he said.
Source: GNA