An Educational Think Tank, Institute For Educational Studies (IFEST) has expressed worry over the undue delay by the government to provide Public Basic SchoolS with text books.
In a statement sighted by Starrfm.com.gh, IFEST stated that Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) have taken public schools for granted.
“It is left with about a day for the first term to end. And that marks 3 academic years after the introduction of the Standard-Based curriculum for KG to B6.
“Sadly, we have about 8 days to end the first term and no public Basic School in Ghana haS received the textbooks for the Standard-Based curriculum,” the Executive Director for IFEST, Peter Partey Anti disclosed.
He said in January 2022, the spokesperson for the Ministry mentioned that, by March 2022, the textbooks would be in the public Basic schools but this has still not been done.
“Sadly, when you raise this issue, authorities downplay the role of textbooks in the teaching and learning process and are quick to point to a “Teacher Manual” which according to the Teachers is not sufficient to aid in an effective delivery of instruction,” he added.
Below is the full statement from IFEST
Get the Textbooks into the schools Now!
By Peter Anti, IFEST-Ghana
According to GES, all Basic schools will vacate on the 7th April 2022. It is left with about a day for the first term to end. And that marks 3 academic years after the introduction of the Standard-Based curriculum for KG to B6.
One year after the implementation, NaCCA announced that they have approved a number of textbooks for use by pupils in KG to B6. The list was published on their website and on Facebook.
Admittedly, Covid-19 unexpectedly happened and then, we had a disruption in the academic calendar. Fortunately, we were able to reopen schools in January 2021.
Another major event was change in the political leadership of the Ministry of Education, hence, some delay in getting the approved textbooks to public Basic School.
However, after the new Minister took office, he indicated in Parliament that, within the next 3 months, the textbooks would be made available to the pupils in the public Basic schools. That was in June 2021.
However, when asked the same question in December, the Minister mentioned that they were still going through procurement and quality assurance processes.
Again, in January 2022, the spokesperson for the Ministry mentioned that, by March 2022, the textbooks would be in the public Basic schools.
Sadly, we have about 8 days to end the first term and no public Basic School in Ghana have received the textbooks for the Standard-Based curriculum.
Friends, at this same time, all pupils in private basic school have access to these textbooks and have been using it during instruction sessions. I dare say that, the dynamics of our school choice at the Basic level might play a role in the level of interest shown by the general public.
It is a known fact that at the Basic level, the average Ghanaian parent prefers private schools and hence those seriously affected by this injustice are the poor and vulnerable children who are in the public Basic schools.
Sadly, when you raise this issue, authorities downplay the role of textbooks in the teaching and learning process and are quick to point to a “Teacher Manual” which according to the Teachers is not sufficient to aid in an effective delivery of instruction.
For how long would we sit silent and allow such injustice to continue. Such a situation continuously widens the inequality gap between the haves and have nots and the achievement levels between the public and private basic school.
Let’s all stand up and speak against this injustice being perpetuated on the innocent Ghanaian Basic School pupil.
#GetTheTextbooksIntoTheSchools
Ghana Education Service
Ministry of Education GH
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Isaac Dzidzoamenu
