National education forum is positive move

The National Education Forum currently ongoing in the country is one initiative that needs to be applauded.

The programme by the government to solicit the views of various stakeholders to fine-tune education delivery for the betterment of the country deserves tonnes of applause.

From February this year, the government committed itself to conduct a series of consultations to critically examine issues and challenges in the education sector.

The consultations, done at the national and zonal levels, are to collate and build consensus for education.

The forum is on the theme: Transforming education for a sustainable future.”

The forum aims at contributing to achieve the government's vision of an "enhanced education system to nurture talents, foster innovation and equip students to be globally competitive with relevant skills for the fast-changing world of work".

Apart from the national dialogue, the committee has already met various student groups, religious leaders and editors.

As part of wrapping up the initiative, a National Validation Conference to consider the inputs of the various stakeholders would be held tomorrow (March 13).

It would include the donor community, among other groups.

A wide range of inputs have already been received with about 15,000 of them coming through online.

This shows the seriousness and dedication we have about the sector and want to bring about an improvement in order to train the requisite manpower for the country’s development.

Indeed, the education sector has over the past couple of years been grappled with so many challenges that need to be addressed to enable the country to get the quality education it desires.

It is an undeniable fact that education system in general needs transformation for a sustainable future for our children or current generation, of which basic, secondary and the tertiary level would not need to suffer.

At the basic level, for instance, the provision of textbooks has been an issue. Aside from that, children have to cross streams and walk long distances to and from school to access education.

Another issue has to do with furniture as some schools do not have enough desks for use by pupils and students in general. Other schools are also operating under trees. Pupils of such schools are left at the mercy of the weather.

Moreover, the issue of feeding has been another headache not only at the second cycle level, but under the Ghana School Feeding Programme. Stakeholders have not only raised concerns about the quality of food but the quantity as well.

Access

In my point of view, equity and unhindered access to education are critical to addressing disparities in access and resources. In our secondary, technical schools, technology integration and its effective use need to be looked into.

There must be curriculum innovation, which will meet the 21st-century skills.

Our teachers must also be well-trained and supported.

Their professional development and retention strategies should be taken care of.

There must be an urgent call to consider regular community engagement to build a partnership between the schools and communities.

This can help shape the future of education and address current challenges. 

In addition, our curriculum should be changed when it no longer meets the needs of students, when there are significant changes in demands and when assessment data indicates a lack of students progress.

Furthermore, the needs of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) must be our focus in providing job opportunities for the youth. 

Sustainability

For the sustainability of TVET, the government must be ready for funding and resourcing, securing financial support for facilitators, equipment and training materials.

Parent Teacher Association (PTAs) in our various schools should be made responsible in sustaining TVET programmes of students when necessary.

This will help the government as far as partnership in education is concerned.  

They need regular training workshops and certifications in the latest technologies and teaching methods. Hands-on experience is needed to encourage teachers to gain practical experience through internships for industry placement. Teachers should be allowed to go through online courses to upgrade themselves.

Finally, the government must create a scholarship opportunity for TVET students who excel and need to further their education or skill for the betterment of the nation.

Supporting technical vocational education to prepare students for self-employment is a must.

In conclusion, our Ghanaian skilled men and women must be considered to teach in our TVET schools.

The writer is a former PRO of the GES