Africa needs holistic education system— Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, has stated that African countries need a holistic education system that will go beyond just reading and writing.
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According to him, the 21st century schooling and education in Africa must prepare students to be able to learn on their own and tap knowledge from global sources to be used in developing solutions that are appropriate to specific local contexts.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw, who is also a Professor of science education, made the statement while delivering an inaugural lecture at the UEW on the theme: “African Schooling and Education, Reflections and Projections on an Intellectual Journey,” last Wednesday.
He noted that for education to successfully respond to the needs of the continuously changing world, it must train learners to develop their foundation skills, improve their ability to transfer skills from one level to another, think critically and continuously acquire new knowledge and skills.
Learning models
He stated further that it was imperative for tertiary institutions across Africa to construct learning models that would make students marketable on the competitive job market, and at the same time develop their capacity and confidence as lifelong learners who can adapt to the changing demands of a globalised world.
He said that schools existed to help identify, nurture and develop skills, attitudes, capacities and capabilities of individuals for their growth and development and that of society, as well as confront societal challenges.
Budgetary allocations
Observing that education was still not a national priority in most African countries due to the continuous fall in national budgetary allocations to the education sector, Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw called for the development of innovative and workable teaching and learning strategies to assist learners to bridge the disconnection between their education and the real world.
He, therefore, advised African governments to not politicise education, educational policy, reforms and all issues regarding education, stressing that new educational reforms initiated must be driven by long-term planning for the good of the country and not for political expediencies.
Chairman
The Chairman of the UEW Governing Council, Okofo Amoako Bondam III, who chaired the function, called on African governments to prioritise education towards the development of the continent, indicating that they must meaningfully invest in the educational sector towards the provision of quality education to the citizenry.
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