Compulsory French can work if planned - GES Chair

The drive by the Akufo-Addo administration to make French a compulsory subject in Ghanaian schools can succeed with proper planning, Michael Nsowah, the Chairman of the Ghana Education Service (GES) Council, has said.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, speaking to the Ghanaian community in Lome, Togo, during a state visit, said his government would make French a compulsory subject from basic to senior high school in Ghana.

The President explained that being able to speak French would help with Ghana’s relations with its West African neighbours, most of whom are Francophone.

Mr Nsowah, sharing his views following the announcement, supported the move saying it should not be difficult to implement if the right measures – mainly teaching and learning resources – are made available.

“It’s all about planning. As the President has made known his vision, it is up to the Ministry of Education and the GES to determine how many schools do not have French teachers. And then in the universities and colleges of education, there is the need to find out how many students offer French and how many can be had to make it possible to get French teachers for JHSs and secondary [sic] schools as well. It’s all about planning, which we must carry out once it is the President’s vision,” Mr Nsowah, also a former Director-General of the GES, told Chief Jerry Forson on Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM on Friday May 5.

He said with the right approach, authorities can ensure that within a short period after the programme is rolled out, every school has at least a French teacher as well as adequate logistics for learning the Romance language.

“Once we succeed, then it means that his [the President’s] vision has been realised and we must support him to realise that vision,” he added.