Natural Science for primary schools not approved by GES

The Ministry of Education has dissociated itself from a primary one textbook titled, "Natural Science for Primary Schools” written and published by one Prof. Albert Joseph Quarm, which claims in an illustration that the head is used for carrying objects.

A statement by the Public Relations Unit of the ministry said its attention had been drawn to the said book and stressed that, “It must be noted that the book in question is not the approved textbook for schools under the Ghana Education Service (GES).

“It is to be noted that it is for unfortunate possibilities such as this that the Ministry of Education vets and authorises books intended for use in our schools and the reason we have requested our heads of schools to keep their schools away from unapproved materials,” the statement said.

Approved textbook

It said the ministry could, however, confirm that there was only one approved primary one textbook titled, “Natural Science for Primary Schools: Activity-Based Pupils’ Book 1” jointly authored by Peter Asiedu, Henric Atta Baa-Yeboah and Ebenezer Agyiri Domptey. 

“On page 62 of this particular book, it is indicated that ‘our head contains the brain which helps us to think’,” the statement said.

The statement advised against associating the ministry or the GES with the said publication and cautioned heads of schools and parents against the purchase and use of such books on the open market. 

“In case any parent wants to buy a book for his or her children, they should contact the Curriculum Research and Development Division of the Ghana Education Service,” it concluded.