‘Revamp education system to address Africa’s challenges’
A communications Consultant at the African University College of Communications (AUCC), Mr Ogochukwu Nweke, has recommended a revamp of the education system in Ghana and other African countries to address problems that confront the continent.
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He said more than ever, Africans needed to infuse solution-oriented curricula that were of African perspective into the continent’s educational system to deal with its challenges.
“There has to be an overhaul of the education system. We need to come to a point where we say that whatever we are teaching and learning in the university is solution oriented, and that the African perspective is infused in our training. Then, we would be able to lift Africa and take ourselves to the directions that we are supposed to be,” he said.
He was speaking at the 15th matriculation ceremony of the Wisconsin International University College, Ghana, held in Accra last Saturday.
Mr Ogochukwu observed that most people graduated from universities but could not provide solutions to problems.
He noted that the African educational system was incomplete because most schools taught borrowed theories and information from foreign jurisdictions, without paying attention to the continent’s problems and needs.
“Our educational system is really suffering now and it is not peculiar to Ghana, it is an African problem. We seem to be teaching and sharing information about other jurisdictions, theories that might not have any bearing with the African experience and the African perspective and because of that most of the African students graduate from school without being able to provide any solution to the problems of Africa,” he emphasised.
Curriculum
For his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University College, Professor Obeng Mireku, said the institution’s mission was to develop world-class human resource, equipped with the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to meet national development needs as well as global challenges.
He said it sought to do that through quality teaching, learning, research, knowledge dissemination and collaboration with key stakeholders.
He indicated that because of that the university was continuously introducing new programmes at the certificate, diploma and degree levels, to secure excellent career prospects for students.
“Our programmes are fully accredited by the National Accreditation Board and affiliated to the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University of Cape Coast,” Prof. Mireku added.
Turning his attention to the matriculants, he told them that every detail counted towards meeting their educational goals and that academic success depended on discipline, time management, perseverance, critical thinking and problem solving, communication and collaboration.
“These are qualities you will need here at the university, later in the world of work and generally throughout life,” he stressed.”
Choices
The Chairman of the University Council, Mr Justice Isaac Duose, advised the students to choose wisely in all aspects of their lives.
“If you make a wrong choice, learn from it, move on and don’t repeat it. This is how character is formed, this is how destiny is cast and that is what we call experience,” he advised.
He urged them not to sacrifice their future for now, by choosing only what was expedient and easy to get.
“Think ahead, think of how your actions would affect you and others today, tomorrow and forever,” he urged them.