Educationist Decries Deterioration In Language Skills

Kumasi Mr T. A. Boateng, Ashanti Regional Director of Education, has expressed concern over the deteriorating standard of language and communication skills in the educational system. The situation has reached an alarming proportion as evidenced by various examination results and the Criterion Referenced Tests (CRT) conducted by the Ghana Education Service. Mr Boateng was addressing the Third Triennial Delegates Conference of the Subin District of the Ghana Association of Teachers (GNAT) at the Kumasi Teachers Hall.. Speaking on the theme "Education as the tool for national development", Mr Boateng attributed some causes of the decline of language and communication skills in the education system, to poor teaching, non-teaching of grammar in the schools and inadequate textbooks and other reading materials.

Others include problems with periods allocated to the teaching of English, mode of examinations, the use of "pidgin" English in schools and the poor implementation of the language policy.

Mr Boateng urged teachers to work harder, stressing that every proper education ''depends largely on the acquisition and effective use of language and communication skills''. Gri