Title: Rethink, Redeliver, Reimagine: A Warning – Ghana’s Education System Risks Stagnation
As a passionate advocate for education, I am compelled to sound the alarm: Ghana’s education system is at risk of stagnation. Despite efforts to modernize the curriculum and instructional methods, a critical component is being left behind – assessment. This oversight has far-reaching consequences, affecting the very students we aim to empower.
Imagine a young Ghanaian student, full of curiosity and potential, eager to learn and grow. But as they progress through the education system, they’re met with a narrow focus on memorization and regurgitation of facts. Their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills lie dormant, unchallenged and undeveloped. This is the reality we risk perpetuating if we fail to transform our assessment practices.
Assessment drives instruction, and when we prioritize fact-recall over deeper learning, we inadvertently encourage teachers to prioritize transmission of knowledge over understanding. This not only hinders students’ ability to think creatively and solve complex problems but also fails to prepare them for an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.
Furthermore, our reliance on high-stakes testing perpetuates a culture of teaching to the test, rather than teaching for understanding. This narrows the curriculum, pushes out essential skills like creativity and critical thinking, and disadvantages students who may not test well.
To avoid stagnation, Ghana’s education system must rethink, redeliver, and reimagine assessment. We need to:
1. Emphasize competency-based assessments that evaluate students’ ability to apply knowledge and skills.
2. Incorporate authentic assessments that mirror real-world scenarios, encouraging students to think critically and solve problems.
3. Leverage technology-enhanced assessments that provide immediate feedback and track progress over time.
The transformation of assessment would create a perpetual cycle of educational evolution, ensuring Ghana’s students are equipped to succeed in an ever-changing world. Let us not squander the progress made thus far; let us rethink, redeliver, and reimagine assessment to secure a brighter future for Ghana’s education system and the young minds it serves.
By Obenfo Enoch Gyetuah
Executive Director – Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS)Â
