Prof. Quarm's natural science textbook not approved by Education Ministry

The Ministry of Education says a science text book for primary one pupils depicting the head as a part of the human body used for carrying loads is not an approved textbook for schools under the Ghana Education Service (GES).

The textbook, “Natural Science for Primary Schools”, written and published by Professor Albert Joseph Quarm generated a lot of public discourse as people disagreed with the author on the use of the human head.

A statement issued by the Ministry Monday dissociated itself and the GES from the publication of the book.

“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.

The Ministry also noted that the approved textbook for primary 1 is “Natural Science for Primary Schools: Activity-Based Pupils’ Book 1” jointly authored by Peter Asiedu, Henric Atta Baa-Yeboah and Ebenezer Agyiri Domptey.

The Ministry therefore cautioned heads of schools and parents on the purchase and use of books on the open market.