I’m moulding Ghana’s Education to be like Singapore, U.S, Finland, Canada - Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo has said he is modeling Ghana’s education system to suit what pertains in advanced countries like Singapore, Finland, Canada, Japan, Korea, Malaysia among others, MyNewsGh.com reports.

These countries, like Ghana, president Akufo-Addo noted, have taken steps to make education “free from Kindergarten to Senior High School”, Akufo-Addo said.

Speaking at the 109th anniversary celebrations of the Adisadel College, Cape Coast, on Saturday, 9th March, 2019 the President said Ghana as a country is “proud to be a part of the nations in the world granting unfettered access to Senior High School education to all school-going children, a path that has been trodden by successful nations like the United States of America, Singapore, Finland, Canada, Japan, Korea and Malaysia”.

The President said he is glad in his heart that no Ghanaian child will be left behind when it comes to education, and irrespective of status, will get the opportunity to school.

He said his Government remains committed to the development of a free, fair society in which all persons, irrespective of economic circumstances and social barriers, are able to access education, acquire skills, and contribute effectively to the progress and prosperity of our nation.

On the investments his Government is making in education, he expressed his delight that “any young boy from any part of the country, who applies himself diligently, can, in spite of his circumstance, dream of also becoming a Santa Clausian, and contribute to the growth and development of Adisadel and of our country.”

Like the examples of some countries of East Asia have shown, the President noted that key to the creation of progress and prosperity is the process of industrialization and value-addition activities.

This, however, he added, cannot be achieved with an uneducated population, the reason why Government is sparing no effort in ensuring that the Free Senior High School policy succeeds.

The introduction of the Double-Track calendar system, President Akufo-Addo stressed, is a temporary measure, aimed at ensuring that no student was denied the opportunity to further his or her education.

“The construction of new facilities and expansion of existing ones in the four hundred (400) High Schools, running double track, are progressing steadily, made possible by a $1.5 billion GETFund securitization initiative,” he said.

The President continued, “Within two weeks, contracts are going to be awarded for the construction of a two-storey classroom block and a two-storey dormitory block as a double track facility intervention. This will be in addition to the completion of the dormitory block and the classroom about which much has been spoken. We will, in due course, phase out the double track system without loss to anyone’s education.”

In addition to a new standards-based curriculum, which has mathematics, science, reading, writing and creativity at its heart, and will be rolled out from kindergarten to Class 6 in primary schools this year, the President stressed that all is set for the construction of 21 state-of-the-art Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Centres this year.

On the news of a recent misunderstanding between the Board and Management of Adisadel, on one hand, and the Ghana Education Service, on the other, the President described it as unnecessary.

“As the body charged with managing schools, the authority and directives of GES cannot be disregarded, without introducing anarchy into our educational system. This recent impasse between the GES and Adisadel should not, and must not reoccur. There are more appropriate channels of addressing problems than resorting to open spats in the media,” he added.

In recognition of Adisadel’s 109th anniversary, and in commemoration of his visit, President Akufo-Addo stated that “GETFund is going to going to be instructed to complete this building in which today’s ceremony is being conducted, and to replace the bus about which the Assistant Headmaster complained.”