Reverend Simon Asige, a retired educationist, has raised concerns about the adverse effects of large class sizes on the effectiveness of Ghanaian teachers, particularly in public schools. During an interview on A1 Radio, Reverend Asige highlighted the challenges faced by educators in providing quality education when classrooms are overcrowded.
Reverend Asige stated that, “The problem that we have in Ghana and the teacher is not very effective but is the numbers, particularly the public. The numbers are very overwhelming. You know you go to a school and a class has over 50 children in a class. If they are more than 50, it becomes very difficult to have proper class control, and if you don’t have proper class control, then it means that one-on-one attention is not there, and these pupils need one-on-one support at every time.”
He further emphasised that teachers are unable to offer personalised teaching for students facing difficulties, hence lumping them together.
“Those who still have difficulties, you need to be able to have time for them and meet them as individuals. But the teachers are overwhelmed, and so they lump them up together – both the fast learners and the slow learners. Even those who may be weeping as a result of their inability to do something, the teachers may not be able to do anything because there are just too many.”
Reverend Asige acknowledged the significant role teachers play in shaping students’ futures but highlighted that the circumstances in overcrowded classrooms, compounded by the lack of adequate furniture, diminish their effectiveness.
“While I say the teacher has a big role to play, their role is diminished by the circumstances in the classroom, that is, in terms of the numbers and the availability of furniture,” Reverend Asige lamented.
The issue of large class sizes and the associated challenges faced by teachers continue to be a pressing concern in Ghana’s education system.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Gerard Awombadek Asagi|Ghana
