The Mis-education of Ghanaian Children

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IDRIS PACAS 11 years ago

Thanks!

It seems you wrote from my mind. The same issue 'Quasi-authors' will be the focus of my article next week.

All is a systematic failure. What you probably left out are these phrases on the substandard books: BASE ...
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Thanks!

It seems you wrote from my mind. The same issue 'Quasi-authors' will be the focus of my article next week.

All is a systematic failure. What you probably left out are these phrases on the substandard books: BASED ON NEW GES SYLLABUS & APPROVED FOR SALE BY GES.

The question is 'Is GES aware that its name is used on such books?' If NO, who should inform them? And if YES, what has it done thus far?

The basic level of education is the not the place where pupils can discriminate between what is wrong and what is right. Thus, it's only appropriate that ONLY the right material be used there. Therefore, allowing any quasi-author to scribble any thing and just deposit it on the market is a more than a security threat. But this is no surprise in a nation where money is the driving force.

There's one natural science book for lower primary which says that time is measured in kilograms. Better examples are these from AKI-OLA integrated science for SHS: centroile and hysosome. These words are correctly spelt as CENTRIOLE and LYSOSOME.

Now, any one- or two-word answer that is wrongly spelt is marked wrong at WASSCE. So, how do we expect students in a school where only AKI-OLA science book is used to know the correct spelling? Notice that many of the teachers are transfer learners: they read the textbooks and just transfer exactly what is there to the students.

Let's join hands to eliminate such books. Unfortunately, many of the govt textbooks even contain more dangerous errors than anything else.
Yaa Adoma 11 years ago

Well done Mr Dery. As a parent I need to scrutinize the books they bring home.Thanks for the eye-opener

Well done Mr Dery. As a parent I need to scrutinize the books they bring home.Thanks for the eye-opener
Francis Dery 11 years ago

Dear Idris:
I am heartened to read your comments. This matter is a BIG problem. We need to turn up the heat otherwise our young ones have a very difficult future ahead of them.

There was an vacant position for a journal ...
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Dear Idris:
I am heartened to read your comments. This matter is a BIG problem. We need to turn up the heat otherwise our young ones have a very difficult future ahead of them.

There was an vacant position for a journalist in a leading national daily. One of the applicants, a graduate of KNUST indicated that she had prior experience writing for a leading newspaper. She premised her CV with a short write-up. It was full of basic errors (not typos). I couldn't get pass the errors to even see what other skills she may have had. For me, that was enough to get her off the list.

This problem goes right to the very top. Thanks again, and all the best.

Francis
insight to the bone 11 years ago

we are tired of the reckless willfulness of these leaders from minority tribal groups who only come with corruption in their hearts and hatred of the values and potential of the majority . until nana or whoever comes out in t ...
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we are tired of the reckless willfulness of these leaders from minority tribal groups who only come with corruption in their hearts and hatred of the values and potential of the majority . until nana or whoever comes out in the open with what they really stand for and how they intend to rule , we are wise to remain reserved and keep an open mind . nana's support of criminal PV shows he seriously falls short of being a genuine progressive leader rather he is more likely to be in cohorts with the mafia political oligarchy that has a stranglehold on our people
Francis Dery 11 years ago

Dear "Insight to the bone", I am extremely disappointed in your comments. As author of this article, a non-partisan, unbiased subject, your comments betray the insipience that is only too often allowed to obscure important n ...
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Dear "Insight to the bone", I am extremely disappointed in your comments. As author of this article, a non-partisan, unbiased subject, your comments betray the insipience that is only too often allowed to obscure important national issues and responsible public discourse. I expected you to disagree on facts about my article, not insult people.

Since you are talking about "leaders from minority tribal groups", which tribe are you from and how "major" is your tribe? Here are some fact to help you - half of the people in the Ashanti Region are 50% of some other tribal extraction in Ghana, most probably the North, which possibly includes you. Check your ancestry. History records that the stature of northern men (tall, light-skinned and strong) was attractive to expansionist Ashanti goals. Soldiers captured from these other tribes during wars were therefore made to sleep with Ashanti women in order to bear tall, strong, light-skinned children. Of course the experiment was not ALWAYS right, so we ended up with some tall, dark ones. I am not trying to be offensive. Facts are facts.

Finally, I have nothing against Mr. Akuffo Addo. I think he will make a fine president, if he is elected. But what I think of him matters less than what you think of others. What you insultingly think of a large number of people of voting age in this country - bona fide citizens of this country, will diminish his chances of getting elected, especially if he puts out a billboard advert in which a small image of cheering school children is thoughtlessly replicated to give the false impression of multitudes. Did you advise him on that gimmick? No wonder!!!

Please desist from further inflammatory comments.

With best wishes,

Francis
insight to the bone 11 years ago

Your extremely assumptive response only serve to justify the comments and my opinions . You criticize my style but not the truths i have exposed , why? People have the right to know why things will never function right or at ...
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Your extremely assumptive response only serve to justify the comments and my opinions . You criticize my style but not the truths i have exposed , why? People have the right to know why things will never function right or at best our leaders will procrastinate so much so by the time things are done they would be pointless . Tribalism has killed GHana and its time for all to go our separate ways by forming independent new nations , no federalism or confederacy can save us now . Now about your topic , you never questioned the motives of JJ's revision of the educational system , did you even consider the idea was to re-brand and brainwash our children into loosing focus of whats life's priorities really are ? These methods were used by the Italians during the second world war and not only the Germans who wanted a different kind of race . Today kids are coming out of schools practically still illiterate and incapable of putting 3 sentences together without mistakes , did you ever ask why ? Its all about tribalism and the weakening of the majority Akan nation into irrelevance . Kindly prove me wrong and i will be happy as i still see a very pessimistic future for our children
Francis Dery 11 years ago

My brother, you are still missing the point. The focus of the article was not J.J. or any politician or government. It was aimed at an institutional failure, albeit a political one, and what ordinary people need to know so ...
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My brother, you are still missing the point. The focus of the article was not J.J. or any politician or government. It was aimed at an institutional failure, albeit a political one, and what ordinary people need to know so we can start doing something about it. Neither was the article about TRIBALISM. You introduced that into the discussion which compelled my response.

You seem to believe that a strengthening of the Akan alone will solve Ghana's problems, including the Education one? Wrong! We are strongest when we all are stronger. We are weakest when only one makes false claims of dominance. Since we are talking about Education, are you suggesting Akans are the most brilliant in this country? I am sure even you know the answer to that question. I sense a deep sense of anger in you. It hearkens to the very emotions which have left many disappointed about humanity's limitations at enormous costs. I suggest you cool down, and let's return to a mature engagement on the issues. This tribal diversion you are introducing is, well..., enough said.

Francis
insight to the bone 11 years ago

No i didnt ,if you dont analyze the etiology of a disease how can you hope to cure it .In this world there is nothing new only those who have done no research are overwhelmed or at their wits ends when faced with a problem . ...
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No i didnt ,if you dont analyze the etiology of a disease how can you hope to cure it .In this world there is nothing new only those who have done no research are overwhelmed or at their wits ends when faced with a problem . Tribalism made some think they have defeated another so have the right to do and undo . I am saying its time for the Akans to go alone and leave the rest to themselves . I dont see the super powers insisting we are all one so sacrifice the welfare of the people in the name of some quasi unity of the world . every nation has the duty to look out first for themselves before being generous to others , in our case we have sacrificed everything including who we are and the future of our children. The way you write its obvious you dont even know who you are or where you belong . I see in Accra many Fantis who can speak a word of Fanti but are so fluent in Ga its amazing , are you one of them ?
Francis Dery 11 years ago

Dear Mr. eerr "Insight to the bone":

You are hiding behind some mask to spew out all this hatred, and in this hatred, you obviously miss my name as author of the article. If you paid as close an attention to matters, as y ...
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Dear Mr. eerr "Insight to the bone":

You are hiding behind some mask to spew out all this hatred, and in this hatred, you obviously miss my name as author of the article. If you paid as close an attention to matters, as you would want me to pay to the origins of tribalism, you would not be guessing where I am from. To set the records straight, I am not Fanti, but I am married to a lady whose Mom is Fanti and her Dad, Ewe, but I am not the latter either. I have worked with many Akans, including Nana Asante Bediatuo (aka Kofi Asante), Nana Akuffo Addo's nephew and he is a fine man; but you bring such fine men into disrepute by your lack of basic intelligence and your conduct in this forum.

If Akans went it alone, where do you think they will end up, for starters, geographically? Geopolitics is a major issue in international affairs and if you doubt that, here's a current example - Russia/Crimea/Ukraine crisis. And that's one problem from your short-sighted, highly emotional Akan hegemony idea. I will leave you to your own doom and so-called sacrifices. I am sure you may even make the case that you won independence for Ghana. Ha! - the facts and pictures support a different conclusion. Independence for Ghana is the ultimate sacrifice in national construction. You certainly don't want to go down that path with me, because even the late eminent Professor Adu Boahen agrees.

Even Mr. Kennedy Agyepong, who "pioneered" the "Akan fuo" idea in modern Ghanaian political discourse has quickly realized that it is a bone-headed idea. Your initial statement of curing a disease from its origins appears to be at variance then with your succeeding statements, in which you basically throw every tribe under the bus. Thank God, minds like yours are not given the responsibility of formulating policy for groups, any group, even a neighborhood community. It would be disaster.

Since it is so difficult for you to grasp the "level of thinking" in the context of this article, I suggest you find a different one, preferably a gutter one, of the ethnocentric kind, where you can spew your vitriol and garbage. Adios Amigo!

Francis Dery
Ato John 11 years ago

A very complete write up on our present education systems and public service in general. The sad thing is our leaders, who benefited from education during the sixties and seventies are the ones failing the nation when it come ...
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A very complete write up on our present education systems and public service in general. The sad thing is our leaders, who benefited from education during the sixties and seventies are the ones failing the nation when it comes to education.

It is common knowledge that any nations rapid development is essentially based on education as can be witnessed in South Korea and China and other eastern and Asian country that have managed to climb out of poverty into the middle income nations.

Education will continue to be the backbone of any national development and it must start from the beginning as is enshrined in the constitution of Ghana. Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) should have been implemented across the nation ten years ago, it has not been done.

The PPP has consistently been reminding the government of this constitution requirement, and the PPP will continue to insist, and when given the mandate will roll out a complete and comprehensive curriculum that will revolutionize our the way we teach our future leaders.

It is time that demanded from our leaders to account for the mandate we gave them. We must be progressive in our way of doing things. Change is good. Awake for Ghana

francis kwarteng 11 years ago

Hello Namesake,

Great word.

More of it is required on Ghanaweb and elsewhere.

Keep it up!

Thanks

Hello Namesake,

Great word.

More of it is required on Ghanaweb and elsewhere.

Keep it up!

Thanks
Francis Dery 11 years ago

Thanks Man. After going through my kids' homework and finding errors routinely, I felt I had to say something and say it loudly. Thanks for the encouragement.

Thanks Man. After going through my kids' homework and finding errors routinely, I felt I had to say something and say it loudly. Thanks for the encouragement.
Francis Dery 11 years ago

Dear Readers, on paragraph 6, third line from bottom, extreme right, the word "past" should have been "pass". The error is deeply regretted.

Thanks

Francis Dery

Dear Readers, on paragraph 6, third line from bottom, extreme right, the word "past" should have been "pass". The error is deeply regretted.

Thanks

Francis Dery
Hmmm 11 years ago

Thanks for taking the time to put on paper and in the media the heartfelt and vocal concerns of some of us.

Thanks for taking the time to put on paper and in the media the heartfelt and vocal concerns of some of us.
IDRIS PACAS 11 years ago

I wrote a similar article, also on Ghanaweb today, titled 'Govt and GES pretend over fake teachers'.

You may read it as well. I express similar concerns about how govt and GES are themselves acting in manners that are lowe ...
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I wrote a similar article, also on Ghanaweb today, titled 'Govt and GES pretend over fake teachers'.

You may read it as well. I express similar concerns about how govt and GES are themselves acting in manners that are lowering educational standards.

I saw a govt textbook named Mastering Social Studies for SHS. The Ghana Flag and other labels typically seen on govt textbooks are painted black and this book in on the market being sold by EPP Books Service. To put my complaint on the website of GES, I logged on and to my expected surprise, I saw this: Board and Comitees. What does 'Comitees' stand for?

Even on the back cover of the aforementioned social studies textbook, grammatical problems abounds. One of the sentences is reproduced here:

Mastering social studies is written to help the Students fit into society by equipping him/her with knowledge....

In the above, a singular pronoun, ie, him/her is used in place of a plural antecedent, ie, students. Why? Again, why did the author capitalize the common noun 'students'?

These embarrassing and distracting grammatical howlers pad nearly even textbook on the market today.

The better option is for the govt to commission the associations of the subject teachers to write the books and not individual authors. A good example is the integrated science textbook written by Ghana Association of Science Teachers (GAST). This book is nearly perfect.
Francis Dery 11 years ago

I agree. I will read your article. Let's keep the heat up.

I agree. I will read your article. Let's keep the heat up.
Abeeku Mensah 11 years ago

There is enough blame to go around and one of which is the lack of authentic indigenous written literature from the people of modern day Ghana. This enabled our colonial masters to write our historical accounts through their ...
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There is enough blame to go around and one of which is the lack of authentic indigenous written literature from the people of modern day Ghana. This enabled our colonial masters to write our historical accounts through their eyes. And it is through those colored prism modern day educated Ghanaians have also mastered the art of our historical narrative via tribal “ananse” stories. Some of those writings starts with the background on some of the people whose actions, rightfully and wrongfully, shapes Ghana's politics from then even unto today. Can we have a history book on Ghana that bares the activities of Nkrumah and his CPP and or of anyone of those in the bomb throwing opposition? So just as our history is a watered down delusions of the old order so it is that our education has been and continues to be built on the tools that work for people of other nations and not of our own.
Yet while those nations improve upon their teaching tools, syllabus, personnel and school building structure, the people of Ghana who cannot be innovative except copy, cannot afford to buy the tools, learn new techniques and or upgrade school building because of leaders who prefer to keep the masses under educated so they can sell us garbage as the Ghana gospel truth. We have people like Dr. Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, the much decorated but undeserving paramount chief in the Eastern region of Ghana, and others who would write and patronize excerpts of intellectually dishonest pre 1966 Ghana history full of foolishness brought on by tribal preferences without shame or remorse. Once we allowed hypocrisy to become a norm, the people of Ghana and our government have been sliding down the economic and moral ladder slowly but surely. It will take much more than people with classroom earned credential to fix the mess; it requires people with principled moral compass to straighten this mess.
There is no nation on earth that has progressed when its people remember life along sectarian, tribal or racial recitations. Where these events hold true there has been wars and little room for development and in Ghana, a land blessed by our creator with the riches of natural and mineral resources, progress has been retarded because of our tribal preferences even as we pretend we love our nation.
Frank 11 years ago

You have in one fell swoop identified, described and laid bare the crux of the foundation of our current an future woes. You will be surprised at the number of our so called leaders who do not see the link between the points ...
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You have in one fell swoop identified, described and laid bare the crux of the foundation of our current an future woes. You will be surprised at the number of our so called leaders who do not see the link between the points raised in your article and the present economic quagmire we find ourselves. Your article is a representation of my thoughts and i applaud you for your accurate insight. What you failed to mention is the undeniable fact that the fallen standards and the mess of our educational system was initiated by the introduction of the JSS/SSS system which as a result has destroyed the hitherto strong educational foundation we used to provide for our children.
Francis Dery 11 years ago

Thanks, let's all put our ideas together and talk about them often. The more we talk about them, the more the politicians will realize soon enough that the "rice and oil campaign season" election strategies are about to die. ...
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Thanks, let's all put our ideas together and talk about them often. The more we talk about them, the more the politicians will realize soon enough that the "rice and oil campaign season" election strategies are about to die. Take care.
EZEKIEL 11 years ago

Great ARTICLE and an eye-opener! INSTEAD of the Min. of Education TACKLING such AREAS of our Education first, she comes out with the "DEAD-ON-ARRIVAL" theme of language!!! I can attest to what you analysed......I started sch ...
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Great ARTICLE and an eye-opener! INSTEAD of the Min. of Education TACKLING such AREAS of our Education first, she comes out with the "DEAD-ON-ARRIVAL" theme of language!!! I can attest to what you analysed......I started school in the END 40s !!
AFTER a short "hangover" from the colonial System, we have NOT been able to IMPROVE ANYTHING in 57 yrs!!!!! SHAME on us ALL.

KKO 11 years ago

Excellent piece, Francis,
To think that we are remunerating professionals to educate the future leaders of Ghana! Not surprisingly, major universities around the world now refuse to accept the products of our universities, i ...
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Excellent piece, Francis,
To think that we are remunerating professionals to educate the future leaders of Ghana! Not surprisingly, major universities around the world now refuse to accept the products of our universities, including the oldest three, for post-graduate studies.

Those who think this "miseducation" problem only affects rural and state schools are not paying attention to their children's education.
Francis Dery 11 years ago

You know, people with money run to these so-called private schools which charge an "arm and a leg" for school fees, believing erroneously that if the price is high, then the education must be of high quality too. Thanks for ...
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You know, people with money run to these so-called private schools which charge an "arm and a leg" for school fees, believing erroneously that if the price is high, then the education must be of high quality too. Thanks for the encouragement and keep strong.
Francis Dery 11 years ago

Thanks for your encouraging words. I hope, if time permits, to elevate the discussion to include the JHS, SSS and University levels. Then I intend to look at Teacher Quality as well. If I can "steal" a bit of family time t ...
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Thanks for your encouraging words. I hope, if time permits, to elevate the discussion to include the JHS, SSS and University levels. Then I intend to look at Teacher Quality as well. If I can "steal" a bit of family time to write, you bet you will be reading from me again on the subject. Take care.

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The Mis-education of Ghanaian Children

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