A Professor of Educational Leadership at the UNESCO Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA), University of Cape Coast, George Kweku Toku Oduro is advocating for the holistic personality development of children in the country.
According to him quality education does not only focus on developing the intellect of learners and taking pride in the performance of children and schools in the standard examination, but ensures the holistic personality development of children.
Speaking at the grand durbar to climax the 90th Anniversary Celebration of Komenda M/A Basic ‘B’ School, Prof. Oduro added that quality education develops the heart, the mind, and the hand of the individual for their benefit and the larger society.
He explained that the mind promotes critical thinking and creativity necessary for productive decision-making while the hand develops in children enabling them to earn a living.
“…the heart promotes moral, emotional, and social orientation necessary for strengthening social cohesion and mutual respect irrespective of cultural, religious, tribal or political differences while the hand develops in children’s skills and practical competencies necessary for earning a living as well as building and strengthening the service and productive sector of our nation’s economy”, he said.
Prof Oduro also revealed that the theme for the celebration, “Ninety years of quality basic education, the achievements, challenges and the way forward”, sums up a key element in the sustainable development goal (SDG 4) which mandates governments to ensure inclusive and equitable education for all.
He commended the Komenda M/A Basic ‘B’ School for feats achieved over the past 90 years in quality education and charged them to uphold quality education that balances the development of the head (intellect), heart (character), and hand (skills).
He underscored the need for this due to the surge in indiscipline facing pre-tertiary education in Ghana.
“For example, there is a worrying development in some schools where the desire to prepare children for exams is denying children holistic personality development. This has compromised ethics and morality in some schools to the extent that nobody finds anything wrong with institutional support for examination malpractices. So, we have situations where graduates from some basic schools continue to tertiary institutions with very good grades but find it difficult to cope with academic work at that level”.
Prof. Oduro also bemoaned the challenge of diminishing national character orientation among young people within the school system.
He emphasized that sectional interests largely pivoted around partisan commitment which according to him is killing national identity and values.
He maintained that the value of one’s destiny which binds Ghanaians together and the spirit of mutual support is fast diminishing through selfish, divisive tendencies, corrupt practices, partisan extremism, and others, making systems dysfunctional.
Prof. Oduro also reminded the management, teachers, and pupils of the school that the world is constantly evolving, and education must adapt as well.
“With the use of technology becoming key in our educational institutions following the COVID-19 experiences, I challenge the headteacher and his team to innovatively embrace e-teaching and e-learning and through mobilization of the school’s alumni and strong partnerships with the community, build and strengthen the capacity of teachers in the use of e-teaching tools”, he charged.
To this end, he urged the headteachers of the school to internalize the motto of the school, “Ntsetsee pa na ahobrease”,(Quality Upbringing and Humility) to place the welfare of the children at the centre of the school’s operations and demonstrate objectivity in addressing issues affecting children’s learning.
He remarked, “It is important that you internalize the fact that the school is a national facility, not a political party organization. Do not discriminate against your staff or children on political lines. Create an enabling environment for all teachers and pupils to feel they belong, irrespective of their religious, tribal, gender or political party differences”.
The Vice-presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and guest honour, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, advised the learners to study hard and show obedience and respect to their parents while urging the parents to lend all the needed support to their wards.
On the issue of the Free Senior High School, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang refuted the assertion that NDC will abolish the Free Senior High School Policy.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang categorically refuted the claims that the Former President and the flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama had said he would cancel the Free Education policy and challenged anyone to produce evidence of such claim.
According to her, the NDC offered free education opportunities for brilliant but needy students while in office and therefore has the desire for Ghanaian students to progress in education.
She added that the NDC has contributed immensely to the progress and development of Education in Ghana.
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Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS
