Graphic National Development Series: Reform education now - Sam Jonah pushes for skills-based learning

Renowned Ghanaian business brain, Sir Sam Jonah, KBE, has called for a complete overhaul of Ghana’s education system, proposing “a shift from a focus on grades to nurturing leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs capable of transforming our economy”.

He said what the country needed was “a new awakening that prioritises community, country and citizenship” as a broad plan to transform the country’s circumstances into real
development.

“If Ghana is to compete in the global marketplace of ideas, we must reform our educational mindset. Schools should not be places where students simply memorise answers to pass exams; they must become environments that inspire problem-solving, creativity and resilience,” the economist knighted by the British Empire said at the Graphic National Development Series on
education in Accra yesterday.

In a comprehensive review of the local education space,Dr Jonah,who is also the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast,offered his frank opinion on the current issues with the education system, including what he viewed as policy defects and state indiscretions, and suggested broad and drastic remedies to chart a path of progress.

“We ought to be troubled by the recent government decision to institutionalise the purchasing of past examination papers for distribution to students.

This must be a very low first. Regrettably, this decision in itself formalises our reliance on rote learning and memorisation at the expense of content comprehension and innovative thinking,” he said.

“We are training our future leaders to repeat or rehash the past; to rely on shortcuts, and to fear failure rather than embrace learning.We are training them to cut corners to replicate and recite,instead of understanding, innovating and producing.We are lowering the standards of our children’s education,” the former Chief Executive of gold mining firm AngloGold Ashanti added.

The Graphic National Development Series is a platform offered by the nation’s foremost media organisation, Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL), to discuss issues of national
interest and to propose solutions for national development. Yesterday’s event was attended by the US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E.Palmer, educationists and other stakeholders in the
education sector. 

New curriculum

Sir Sam said he was glad that the new primary school curriculum being rolled out by the government prioritised practical skills over theory and rote learning. 

"Our children should grow up knowing that education is not a means to escape responsibility, but a tool to equip them to tackle the challenges Ghana faces," he said.

Referencing the words of a former US President, Theodore Roosevelt, that “to educate a man in mind but not in morals is to educate a menace to society”,he said: "We are
seeing the effects of this neglect: a nation grappling with social ills not emanating from a deficit in intellect, but a tragic dip in moral values and collective responsibility".

“What we need is a mindset of innovation which can only be triggered by practical learning and thinking on our feet,” he said.

Crisis

Sir Sam said the crisis in Ghana’s education space demanded a radical shift in the mindset of people, a transformation that should redefine their approach to education which, in turn,would impact the country's governance and community. 

"When we assume a mindset of innovation and integrity, we prepare the young ones to be agents of progress our nation dearly needs. "Our educational system must be the first line of defence against our prevailing moral decay.From the earliest stages of education, children should be taught the new Ghanaian mindset; the importance of principles, not just in theory,but through simulation and practical application," he said. 

"It is one thing to learn about honesty in a textbook; it is another to live it through everyday actions, nreinforced by the examples set by educators,parents and community leaders," he added.

In order to successfully transform the mindset of the population for the attainment of the desired cultural values, peace and collective prosperity, he said some key stakeholders such as
educators, parents, guardians and policymakers had crucial roles to play. 

He said building a nation of empowered minds required a commitment to preserving and promoting the country's culture, values,and morals,and integrating them into the very fabric of its
educational system.

Rationale 

The Managing Director of the GCGL, Ato Afful, said the national development event on education was designed against the backdrop that well-educated citizens held the key to sustainable national development. 

Mr Afful said drawing inspiration from the GCGL’s principle of truth and accuracy every day,it was important to prioritise an education system that was anchored on truth and accuracy,
and tailored to respond to the development needs of the country. 

"If we get answers to the education question truthfully, we will be doing ourselves some good and contributing to developing our country," he said.

He stressed that if the country continued to toy with its education, there was no way the sustainable development it so desired could be
achieved. 

Mr Afful added that with its objective of building national concensus on strategic issues that would help to shape national policies, the Graphic National Development Series on education needed to be the turning point for educational reforms and change of mindset for development. 

He added that when the country’s education was focused on instilling values in citizens,there would be holistic development