New SHS curriculum starts

The Ministry of Education has rolled out the new curriculum for second cycle schools through its agencies, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) and the Ghana Education Service (GES).

The curriculum covers senior high schools (SHSs), senior high technical schools (SHTSs) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) schools across the country.

Beginning this month (2024/2025 academic year), the new curriculum is expected to redefine the future of education in the country by nurturing critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving abilities.

Preparations

Over the past two years, NaCCA, the agency responsible for developing curricula in the country, has been meticulously planning and working together with the GES to develop and roll out the new curriculum.

The preparation involved extensive stakeholder collaborative effort to understand the new curriculum which saw over 300 experts from across the country contribute to the development of a robust curriculum designed to shape the future of education in the country.

A critical component of the planning phase focused on teacher preparation, where Weekly Professional Learning Community (PLC) sessions were continuously organised to equip teachers with the necessary skills to implement the curriculum effectively.

Additionally, teacher manuals that align with the new curriculum across all subjects have been developed through partnerships between the Ministry of Education and the various subject associations to ensure educators get the right tools to guide their students.

Groundbreaking shift

Speaking about the new curriculum, the Director-General of NaCCA, Professor Yayra Dzakadzie, said: “The new curriculum is very transformative and is designed to shape the next generation of Ghanaian leaders.”

“The new curriculum is not just an update but a groundbreaking shift towards equipping learners with the essential skills needed to succeed in the fast-paced modern world. At the heart of the curriculum lies a commitment to nurturing critical thinking, fostering creativity, and honing problem-solving abilities,” he said.

Prof. Dzakadzie stressed that it was the first time that Ghana had developed an SHS curriculum that focused on shared Ghanaian values, attempting to educate a generation of Ghanaian youth who would love and be proud of their country, as well as contribute effectively and efficiently towards its development.

Design

He explained that the new curriculum had been designed with three primary outcomes. First, it aims to equip learners with essential 21st Century skills, ensuring that they were well prepared for the demands of modern life.

It also lays the groundwork for learners to pursue further education by providing them with a strong academic foundation while focusing on preparing learners for the world of work, instilling in them the competencies and character qualities they need to thrive in their future careers and contribute positively to society.

“Ultimately, the curriculum would prepare learners to live responsible adult lives, further their education and enter the world of work,” the NaCCA Director-General said.

Prof. Dzakadzie said one of the most laudable aspects of the new curriculum was its emphasis on shared Ghanaian values as it sought to instil a sense of pride and responsibility in learners, ensuring they understood and appreciated the cultural heritage of the country.

The curriculum, he added, also offered flexible learning pathways, allowing students to choose subjects that suited their interests and career goals.

Furthermore, intervention programmes in Mathematics and English Language had been introduced to support students who may need additional help in those core subjects, Prof. Dzakadzie explained.

New assessment methods

A significant shift in the approach to assessment was another highlight of the curriculum, the Director-General said.

Prof. Dzakadzie said the new assessment methods were more focused on learners’ holistic development, moving away from traditional exam-based evaluations to more comprehensive approaches that assessed critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving abilities.

“With the comprehensive planning and wide-reaching objectives of the new curriculum, Ghana’s education system is set for a transformative change that will better prepare learners for the demands of the modern world, while equipping them with the values that are key to the country’s development,” he added.

Background

Barely a fortnight ago, the GES released the 2024/2025 academic calendar for SHS students ahead of the release of the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) results.

The calendar indicated that all first-year students would commence the new academic year from October 30, 2024.

The BECE was the first to be conducted on the new Common Core Curriculum for JHSs, hence the need to graduate the curriculum to the second cycle schools.