The Politics of Ghana Education System

By Michael Addotey

The Ghana education system had suffered a lot of dramatic vicissitudes from various political parties in power with several government policies to reshape the education system in Ghana. Some are admission criteria, the number of years spent in schools, the capitation grant, final external examinations, curriculum/syllabus, research policies, etc. All these policies were formulated just to prepare students for the labour market and produce quality human resources for productivity objectives in the country. Aside all these policies, Ghana still writhes with severe productivity problems of which many Asian countries laborers such as China, are imported for common construction works in Ghana. What is the future of the education system and laborers in Ghana?

Many laborers are imported from foreign countries to execute work duties in Ghana when there are high unemployment issues in the country. This is attributed to the fact that, graduates and laborers in the country cannot perform such works eliciting the importation of laborers. If graduates and laborers cannot execute such work duties, then what is the essence of Ghana education system? Why do politicians who come in power always try to formulate educational policies which don’t yield results and still try to keep it? It said that, the main objective of political parties is to win elections for the next term, hence focus their attention on how they can win elections but not to develop the country. Politicians, who change these educational policies, end up sending their children to school outside the country, because they don’t believe in the policies they have formulated themselves. And who suffers more from their political ambitions; the country.

Many students in Ghana, graduates out from school and cannot write a standard job application letter and C.Vs, execute the practical aspect of what he/she have learnt in school. Some even come to the labor market without humility and willingness to learn because they think what they have been taught in school is final. The problem is from the education systems. Ghana education system, particularly, the public institutions have failed to produce quality human resources for the labor market and the country have to always import labors.

Political parties should swing their policy orientations from their selfish interest to help the country grow in quality human resources. The education system should incorporate a compulsory internship and attachment programs which will equip students with practical knowledge aside the unreliable theories they have been taught in school. The labor market needs executors not chatterboxes who talk more than taking actions. This is the only way Ghana can stop importing labors and unemployment can drastically reduce in Ghana. GOD BLESS GHANA!