A thirteen-member steering committee to undertake a review of the curriculum for Kindergarten (KG) to Basic Six has been inaugurated. 

The committee, which is made up of experienced individuals familiar with the education system in the country is chaired by Professor Amina Plummer.

Other members are Mamle Andrews, Chief Director, Ministry of Education (MoE); Prof. George K.T. Oduro, Technical Advisor to the Minister of Education; Prof. Yayra Dzakadzie, Director-General, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment; Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis, Director-General, Ghana Education Service (GES); Prof. Azeko Salifu Tahiru, Inspector of Schools, and Prof. Christian Addai-Poku, Registrar, National Teaching Council.

The rest are Dr Eric Adzore, Director-General, Ghana TVET Service; Nana Baffour Awuah, Director of Pre-Tertiary Education, MoE; Rejoice Dankwa, Director, Technical, Vocational Education and Training, MoE; Insah Shirzu, Director, Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring and Evaluation, MoE; Mavis Asare Donkor, Director-General, Administration, and Dr Samuel Awuku, an Education and Development consultant.

Significance

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, who inaugurated the committee, said education held the key to future successes of the country and "if we get it right in education, we will get it right as a country".

He explained that the decision to embark on the review and revision of the curriculum was not only a technical exercise or a routine update, but a visionary step towards preparing children for the real world of work that was rapidly evolving and changing, increasingly interconnected and full of challenges and opportunities.

"It is my considered view that the exercise that you are going to undertake will result in the production of ethical and responsible leaders for our country.

“To succeed in the current new world and to build the Ghana we want and envisioned, our children will need more than academic knowledge," Mr Iddrisu said.

For children to be relevant in future, he said they needed to be adaptable and acquire holistic skills that would empower them to think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, work in teams and navigate uncertainties with confidence.

The minister further said that the curriculum review would be deeply rooted in the 21st Century skills which were a new foundation block for learners’ development.

"It is time our children learn that  Africa always has something to offer, not only in terms of its survival but brilliance, culture and innovation.

We will expect that your curriculum review will reflect real life.

"I should add that we expect you to develop a curriculum that will strengthen our national values of honesty, respect, integrity and patriotism, and, more importantly, civic responsibility," he said.

Founder of Ghana

The minister further charged the committee to settle the debate over who was the founder of the country.

"Your review of the curriculum must end this matter," he emphasised, adding that "I don't want Ghanaian children to grow up not knowing who the nation’s founding fathers are or who its foundational leader was.

“I expect that your review will settle the debate on this matter," he said.

Mr Iddrisu expressed appreciation to members of the committee for accepting to serve the nation.