Education should lead to identity discovery - Dr Forde

Dr Linda Naa Dzama Forde, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), has said the focus of education should not only lead to students passing their examinations.

There should be emphasis on helping students to find their identity, meaning and purpose in life to acquire values such as respect for human dignity, integrity and the fear of God.

Dr Forde, made the call at the Redemption Baptist school Speech and prize-giving day and the maiden graduation ceremony for 46 Kindergarten and 38 Class six pupils, who are being promoted to class one and Junior High School respectively.

The day celebrated under the theme, “Quality Education: An Unqualified Legacy”, was also used to bid farewell to students of the school who recently wrote the BECE and were awaiting their results.

Dr Forde, who is also the Assistant Executive Director of the School, said the lack of respect for human dignity, integrity and the fear of God has contributed to corruption and other social vices in the country.

She said the theme was vital especially at a time when the entire country seemed to be apprehensive about the quality of leadership at all levels.

Dr Ford said it is the responsibility of all to ensure that children have the right to quality education with the support of parents and the community.

She said quality education also included processes through which trained teachers use child-centred teaching approaches in well-managed classrooms and schools taking into account teachers’ respect for the rights of children.

The Assistant Executive Director stressed that quality education demands that children were provided with inner motivation to change negative behavior rather than over-reliance on the cane.

Dr Forde commended the graduates for successfully going through their first and second critical stages of study, adding “for them the foundation for life-long learning has been laid”.

Mr William Addison, Headmaster of School, paid glowing tribute to the founding mothers of the school, the Women Missionary Union of the Cape Coast Baptist Church, whose aim was to help little children acquire knowledge and above all instil the fear of God, discipline and good morals in them at the early age.

The school established in 1994, now has two streams, with a teacher population of 28, out of which 12 are professional teachers with three furthering their education at the university of Cape Coast.

Reverend Dr Isaac Mills-Owoo, Executive Director of the School, commended the teaching and non-teaching staff whose efforts he said have contributed to the success story of the school.