Accra, Jan. 6, GNA - Professor James Flolu, Dean of School of Creative Arts, University of Education, Winneba, on Monday called for a holistic and integrated education system and a curriculum framework, which would guide the entire teaching and learning process in the country.
That, according to him, would require a review of any existing policy and the development and formulation of a policy, which sees the lives and works of citizens as a whole gamut of teaching and learning with various stages, processes, dimensions, bands and specialities, among others.
"There is the need to develop the education system as an integrative, a broad and collective enterprise in which both teachers and learners are engaged in a continuous pursuit of learning," he said. Speaking on the topic; "Lifelong Learning and Attainment of the Millennium Development Goals MDGs" at the on-going 60th Annual New Year School, Prof. Flolu called for the development of a national tactics of growth and development where all citizens view their total lives and living - work, leisure, entertainment, health etc. - as a continuous process of learning.
The New Year School is an annual programme being organised by the Institute of Adult Education, University of Ghana, Legon, to discuss topical issues affecting the country.
This year's School under the theme; "Lifelong Learning and Accelerated National Development" has attracted over 500 participants from the academia, trade unions, schools, agriculture and teachers' associations and is being supported by the Agricultural Development Bank.
Prof. Flolu said the major perennial problems facing education in Ghana included the exclusion of the informal sector, which provided education and training through the apprenticeship system. The second problem, he said, related to the curriculum of schools, especially at the pre-tertiary level where subjects were so examination-orientated such that if a subject was not on the examination timetable it would be considered irrelevant.
"One can say that teaching and learning in schools have become so narrow that there is little joy in learning for learning sake, learning to make one creative and competitive and this is dangerous for the nation's future.
"There is the need to review our notion of curriculum development and teaching and learning. We need a system that will encourage co-creative learning," he added. Touching on Professional and Career Development Education, Prof. Flolu advocated a curriculum that would emphasise the opportunities for career paths, career choices and development devoid of current rigidity associated with higher education institutions.
"There should be opportunities for all citizens to choose to study in disciplines that they believe will enrich their lives and living. Opportunities should be created for people irrespective of their ages to continue to study for different or higher certificates," he observed. He therefore called on the Institute of Adult Education to consider expanding their roles and activities which would change public perception of them as not only educators of adults but also educators of all learners.
Prof. Flolu also called on the government to initiate collaboration among the Ministry of Education, Open University, relevant educational institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations and the Institute of Adult Education to develop a unified qualifications and certification framework and body.
That, he said, would synchronise all qualifications and certificates, degrees, diplomas, drawing equivalents, based on content, teaching and learning together with and assessment criteria. "The universities and other higher education institutions should expand their roles beyond mere provision of diplomas and degrees to becoming the real leaders in lifelong learning. They should collaborate and initiate moves to establish community colleges, schools and institutes throughout the country harnessing and bringing their specialities together," he added.
