The future of the current basic education system in Ghana is blur

The growth and development of every nation, depends largely on the nature and structural makeup of the system of education being run in that particular country.

Gold Coast now Ghana gained her independence from the colonial masters as a result of the quality of educationists we have at the time such as Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ako Adjei, and JB Danquah to mention

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These people were able to transform the knowledge acquired into a meaningful adventure that sought to liberate us from slavery and other acts that does not promote the effective development of the Gold Coast at the time.

Education, they say is the key to success/ development is not only about being with peers in school simply because others are there. The key can only be obtained through constant practice of norms and values of the Educational system that reflect in the society we find ourselves.

This calls for the effective implementation of quality educational programs, structures, and functional long-term policies to ensure that society is not been cheated.

For instance, education is like building blocks in which any slight defect on the foundation affects the entire building.

In Ghanaian settings, formal education begins at the lower grade ie basic level where mastering basic rules and regulations, manners, moral values, obedience as well as judicious use of time and available limited resources is been taught before proceeding to secondary and tertiary levels.

The slightest deviation at the basic level has the tendency to permanently deteriorate the entire system and subsequently affect the human capital of the country in the near future.

The foundation needs quality materials, experienced personnel, timely provision of the required resources, and above all effective supervision to maximize profit. Anything short of that will render the system weaker than expected.

Education is a continuous process that needs to be updated constantly based on acceptable practice to facilitate the discovery of theories and principles.

Unfortunately, Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education seems to be lost when it comes to facilitating and coordinating the educational system in the right direction.

In 2019, a new curriculum was designed and subsequently introduced which was initially characterized by a week of retraining of in-service primary school teachers on the modalities and concepts of the curriculum prior to its implementation in September 2019 under the leadership of Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh; the sector minister and Prof. Opoku Amankwa; the Director-General of GES.

Teachers were promised prompt supply of teaching and learning materials to ensure its smooth implementation. Series of press releases were made to assure parents and guardians as well as the general public to accept and appreciate the new curriculum.

The purpose of the new curriculum is to replace the old system been described as too bookish. This curriculum seeks to make learners more practically oriented, objective in thinking, and be more confident to solve societal problems rather than relying on secondhand ideas to deal with immediate situations.

These amongst other things culminated in the extension of closing time from 1:30 pm to between 3:30 pm and 4:00 pm to increase contact hours.

This curriculum requires teachers to be mere facilitators only directing learners, observing them do activities leading to the discovery of new theories, carrying out project works to broaden the mindset of learners, and engaging in more hands-on work to help reduce graduates' unemployment due to the fact that the pupils will acquire vocational skills aside the academics.

It involves fewer writings and discourages end-of-term exams but more activities are done during the instructional period.

Unfortunately, Three years down the line teachers at the primary level of the public schools are yet to receive learning materials from the right authorities for proper implementation of the program.

The common message of the authority has always been that the printing of the required materials is in the offing making teachers become the most confusing creatures in the middle of this program.

The most disturbing situation is that teachers have to download pre-prepared lesson notes on the NaCCa website and re-write same on their lesson notes books for vetting which in my humble opinion, a lot still needs to be done.

Resource materials need to be given to serve as reference points since our knowledge capacity varies.

The learners do not feel motivated to put up their best because, after school, there is absolutely no reading material to complement the classroom work.