President John Dramani Mahama yesterday launched the National Consultative Forum on Education and said reforming the sector was not an option but a necessity.

Outlining five critical areas for the consideration of the forum expected to lead to far-reaching reforms in the local education sector, the President said the forum should eventually address how the country would ensure quality education for every child, regardless of location; how it would equip teachers with the tools they need to succeed; how it would promote innovative teaching methods and critical thinking; how it would ensure sustainable financing for education; and how it would strengthen the role of faith-based organisations in school management.

“Education reform is a shared responsibility, a collective journey that requires all voices, all perspectives, and all hands on deck.

“This consultative process, I believe, will bring out the best solutions born out of dialogue, partnership and mutual understanding to deal with our current and future challenges,” the President said.

A large number of stakeholders in education, donor partners, teacher unions, representatives of the security agencies, the clergy, persons with disability, and a section of the public attended the launch of the forum being held on the theme: “Transformation education for sustainable future”.

It was also attended by traditional authorities and Members of Parliament.

“Let us be bold in our ideas, collaborative in our approach and relentless in our pursuit of excellence. Together, we can build an education system that resonates with the aspirations of ordinary Ghanaians and prepares our nation for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century,” the President told the gathering.

Improved system

President Mahama urged participants to envision an education system in which all Ghanaian children, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

“We need an education system which promotes critical thinking to help to bring rapid development and not just a repetition of what was learnt in the classroom,” he stated.

President Mahama said what the nation needed now was not excessive political interference in the education system, but rather easily accessible quality and an all-inclusive education.

He gave an assurance that the government was fully committed to the reform process, adding that the recommendations of stakeholders at the forum would not gather dust on the shelves.

The President said as part of the reforms, teacher education and capacity building would also receive significant attention.

He said allocations would be increased to critical areas, including foundational learning, with focus on language, mathematics, science and culture.

“Let us envisage an educational system where teachers are celebrated and supported, and where schools prepare students for lifelong learning and not just exercises in the classroom,” the President said.

Policy reform

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, said the forum was in fulfilment of President Mahama’s pledge to seek professional advice to facilitate the nation’s education reform policy.

The education reform, he said, was also meant to expand access to tertiary education by the beneficiaries of the free Senior High School (SHS) programme.

Speakers’ take

An international education consultant, Professor Joseph Agbenyega, who presented the first keynote address on “Transforming Education for Sustainable Future”, said the nation needed a strong educational development ideology with purpose and career development for teachers.

“We lecture without teaching, so no critical thinkers are produced in the classrooms,” he said.

Prof. Agbenyega said it took a combination of reform and transformation to lead to the future.

He said the intended reform must also take into account the welfare of teachers and students.

An international education development expert, Prof. Kwame Acheampong, who presented a paper on “Increasing access to quality education for marginalised groups”, said the success of every education reform would also depend largely on the active inclusion of the disadvantaged and marginalised in society.

“We must not lose the potential of the disadvantaged and marginalised, so we must prioritise their needs under the reform,” he maintained.

Prof. Acheampong said the reform also needed committing great zeal and resources to facilitate teaching and learning at the basic school level because secondary and tertiary institutions could not thrive on weak foundations.

The Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, said there was evidence of seriousness attached to the reform by President Mahama, and that the enthusiasm by the President was highly gratifying.

He pointed out that political independence must come with the requisite education system to help address national development challenges.

“Education is a way out of poverty,” Togbe Afede said.

The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, said while reform would engender development, it was also imperative to preserve the nation’s peace all the time to ensure the rapid realisation of the reform.