Traditional approach to teaching takes away curiosity from learners
A former Chairman of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), Nana Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, has underscored the need for a major shift from the traditional approach to teaching which involves the delivery of content knowledge for the learner to absorb, memorise and reproduce when required.
He said that approach of teaching had taken away the joy and curiosity from the learners and stressed the need "to bring back to our students the excitement, joys of learning, whether mathematics, science or any other subject."
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Prof. Anamuah-Mensah was addressing the 71st Speech and Prize-Giving Day celebration of the Ghana National College in Cape Coast last Saturday.
It was on the theme: "Delivering quality education for transformational leadership."
Quality education
He said delivering quality education must entail appropriate teaching strategies that encouraged critical thinking, problem-solving communication, creativity and project-based learning.
That, he said, would ensure the production of school and university graduates with transformative skills.
He said for any education reform to succeed and achieve its goals, the role of teachers as a resource, was very crucial, adding that "teachers are the change agents in any useful education system.
"All over the world, it is recognised that the role of the teacher in the successful implementation of educational reform is critical.
“But they can perform this role only when they are given the required skills and competence," he said.
Quality trained teachers
Prof. Anamuah-Mensah, who is also the Chairman of the Governing Council of Jayee and Zenith University Colleges, said the quality of training that teachers received in their initial training and systematic and sustained support for their development were needed to ensure that the educational systems reaped the full potential of their contribution to quality education.
He further identified material resources as well as the content or curriculum as "needs to be available if the education is to produce transformed leaders".
Prof. Anamuah-Mensah commended the college for turning out excellent leaders who had important roles in the various sectors of the society with some others excelling at the international level.
Transformation
The Chief Executive Officer of the Tema Shipyard and Dry-docks, Captain Francis Kwesi Botse Micah, said the key advantage of ensuring quality education was the transformation that would be seen in the citizenry.
"Therefore, the quality of our leaders is a direct result of what we produce as a society — from our school, to all organs and institutions with the role of providing education," he explained.
He stressed the need for the country to revert to the days of teaching values, adding that without the strong foundation, any other thing built would eventually fall apart.
Ghana Exim Bank
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Exim Bank, Nana Lawrence Agyinsam, called on the students to remain focused and studious in their education, stressing: "We have the tenacity to propel this nation to the needed destination."