The Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called for an urgent need to develop human capital by fostering collaborative efforts among all stakeholders to improve Ghana’s education sector.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Educational Forum Validation Workshop in Accra on Thursday, March 13, Vice President Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed that prioritizing educational reforms is a shared responsibility that demands a collective effort from all sectors to improve and reshape the country’s educational system.
The Vice President indicated that selecting senior educational experts and engaging all stakeholders demonstrates the shift from partisan politics with a focus on a reformed system rooted in quality and equity.
“Your report will be the foundation upon which our educational policies will be shaped and implemented to build an inclusive and equitable, transformative education system for Ghana and for the benefit of all Ghanaians regardless.
“As the president stated, we will also increase the allocation of resources to critical areas, and I think our budget has borne us out. And of course, at all levels, it includes foundational learning.”
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The National Education Forum concluded with a communiqué highlighting key issues raised by stakeholders to improve the country’s educational system. Stakeholders emphasized the need for the government to prioritize investments in infrastructure, access, and quality education at the basic, secondary, and tertiary levels.
A critical concern raised was the urgent expansion of secondary school infrastructure to abolish the double-track system under the Free Senior High School policy.
Other recommendations included bridging the gap between urban and rural schools, providing quality food for students, and enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to attract more youth.
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The forum also called for efforts to curb indiscipline and examination malpractices, the prompt release of funds, and improving teacher scholarships and welfare.
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, said the essence of the forum is to help sustain the future of education.
“The essence of the National Education Forum and the ideas, the recommendations of blueprint that will emanate from it will help Ghana secure a sustainable future.
“We have an honorous responsibility to fix education and fix it to meet our national aspirations and prepare our students and children for the competencies of the 21st century.”
The Executive Secretary of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), Dr. Albert Nsengiumva, urged African countries to develop home-grown policies that will support the educational sector and address the unique challenges facing the continent.
“We know technology is a powerful tool. The question is, how do you connect evidence to line in outcomes? Because education has been around for many years, but we have been using it in parallel, and it’s time to bring evidence and consolidate that evidence into actions that will support learning outcomes.”