The focus of education in Ghana

By Rich Akpalu

People undergo training or apprenticeship for just three years and are well equipped to handle works pertaining to what they learnt.

Others attend workshops and seminars for a week or two and are well vested to undertake viable businesses. How come that having spent several years at school (basic, junior high, senior high, tertiary-university) learning virtually the same and similar things at these stages, the student is fit for no job market?

“Children spend years in an antiquated educational system, studying subjects they will never use, preparing for a world that no longer exists.” – said Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad, Poor Dad).

It shouldn’t surprise you that the type of education that the majority craves for in Ghana is what causes this problem. Technical and vocational education is not like that; at the end of it, the student is well cultured for a particular job.

In today’s world, education is very important. However, we must reprioritize the drives of education and studies in Ghana. This is the steer to redirect our efforts towards human capital development. I believe if we do this, soon we shall have graduates who are fit for the job markets rather than the market of unemployed graduates.

Dr. Myles Monroe in a sermon mentioned that education for people, who were once colonies, should focus on the 3Rs (self-concept; self-worth; and self-esteem), not than 3Rs (reading, writing, and arithmetic). This also will inspire students at the various levels of education to be more creative, active and useful.

We need now to re-focus the aim of our academic activities toward imparting our children and youth for lifetime impacts other than for well labeled papers dubbed certificates and degrees.

This may necessitate some adjustments being made in the curriculum. However, if we fail to effect a reasonable change – to give the Ghanaian an education that equips him/her to use his/her talents and abilities to explore and exploit the resources and opportunities in Ghana, Africa and the global economy at large, we will continue to cry ‘edu-tears’. Education is a means, not an end!

"Today, the most dangerous advice you can give a child is “Go to school, get good grades and look for a safe secure job. That is old advice, and it's bad advice." – Robert Kiyosaki.

God bless Ghana!
Maranatha!