'We are training our future leaders to repeat the past' – Sir Sam Jonah on Ghana's PASCO culture

Sir Sam Jonah, Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), has delivered a powerful critique of Ghana’s education system, warning that it promotes rote learning at the expense of critical thinking and innovation.

Speaking today at the Kofi Ohene-Konadu Auditorium of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Sir Sam addressed the theme, "A critical look at education and culture in Ghana to chart a course of national development, peace and our collective prosperity."

In a candid keynote address, Sir Sam expressed concern over what he sees as an entrenched culture of memorisation rather than understanding within Ghana’s schools. 

"If Ghana is to compete in the global market of ideas, we must reform educational mindset," he stated. Sir Sam urged that schools should transform from being exam-focused institutions to environments that foster problem-solving, creativity, and resilience. 

"We need a shift from a focus on grades to nurturing leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs capable of transforming our economy," he added.

A focal point of his criticism was the recent government decision to distribute purchased past examination papers (PASCO) to Senior High School (SHS) students nationwide.

He referred to the move as a “very first low,” arguing that it entrenches a reliance on rote learning. 

"This decision in itself formalises a reliance on rote learning and memorisation at the expense of content comprehension and innovative thinking," he stated. 

Sir Sam argued that such practices prepare students to “repeat or rehash their past,” prioritising quick answers over a true understanding of concepts.
 
By leaning on memorisation and standardised answers, he argued, the country risks developing a generation that “cuts corners, replicates, and recites instead of understanding, innovating, and producing.” This approach, he warned, diminishes the potential of Ghana’s youth. “We are lowering the standards of our children’s education,” he said bluntly.

The chancellor called for a comprehensive overhaul of the educational system to cultivate forward-thinking, adaptable young minds who are prepared to take on Ghana's socio-economic challenges.