The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced the introduction of a new curriculum for Senior High Schools (SHS), aimed at equipping students with 21st-century skills, competencies, and values that will prepare them for both responsible adulthood and the workforce.
The updated curriculum, set to begin in the 2024/2025 academic year, will focus on a learner-centred approach, shifting from the traditional teacher-led model to one where students play a more active role in their education.
Speaking on A1 Radio recently, Ephraim Apiah Agolma, the Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the GES in the Upper East Region, explained that the new curriculum seeks to promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative learning within classrooms.
According to him, teachers will transition into facilitators, guiding students to find their own solutions and ideas rather than merely imparting knowledge. This change is designed to foster a more engaging and effective learning environment, where students’ thoughts and contributions are valued.
“It seeks to equip learners with 21st-century skills, various competencies, character building, and Ghanaian-shared values. Additionally, it focuses on national values that aim to prepare students for responsible adult life and the workforce. We are more or less encouraging cooperative learning and problem solving in the classroom, where the teacher can facilitate learning to bring out what students know. So, we’re saying that, in the classroom, the learner is not wrong. All you need to do is guide the learner to get it right.”
He noted that the new curriculum is part of an ongoing effort by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) to align the education system with global standards, emphasizing national values and the holistic development of students. It aims to prepare learners not only for academic success but also for practical challenges in life and work.
In terms of subject choices, the curriculum introduces greater flexibility. First-year SHS students will study a broad range of subjects, with the option to specialize in the second year by selecting their preferred courses. Mr. Agolma stated that students will have the opportunity to choose from a minimum of seven and a maximum of nine subjects, depending on their abilities. “You will have multiple subjects to choose from, with a minimum of seven and a maximum of nine. Depending on your capacity as a learner, you’ll select within this range. However, you cannot take fewer than seven.”
While major subjects will be externally assessed by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), additional courses taken will be recorded internally and can be included in university applications. He added that the new curriculum will be rolled out in selected schools, with teachers given the autonomy to choose which subjects they will teach based on their expertise. However, the focus will be on ensuring that the system is implemented in a way that benefits all students, encouraging them to build essential life skills.
Mr. Agolma emphasized that the new curriculum is focused solely on the well-being of students and should not be politicized. He stressed that the goal is to create a national standard of education that fosters problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaborative learning, all of which are essential for students’ future success. Furthermore, he underscored that this curriculum overhaul marks a significant shift in Ghana’s educational landscape, aligning it with global trends and preparing students for the challenges of the modern world, emphasizing the need for support from educators and stakeholders across the country.
“I think that when we are building a curriculum, we should collectively support it. I don’t see any politics in a child learning problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaborative learning in the classroom. So we should view this as a national curriculum, move forward with it, and encourage teachers to support this new curriculum we are rolling out,” he said.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga|
