A high-level committee tasked with reviewing the national curriculum for Kindergarten One to Primary Six has been charged to chart a bold new direction for basic education in Ghana, one that balances academic knowledge with real-world, ethical, and patriotic learning.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Accra, the Minister of Education, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, emphasized the urgent need to develop a comprehensive policy that equips learners with 21st-century skills and a deep sense of national identity.
“Education holds the key to the success of the country. If we get the foundation right, then things will fall in place,” the Minister said.
The newly formed committee is composed of some of the most experienced and influential figures in Ghana’s education sector. Its members include leading academics, directors of key educational agencies, and policy advisors — all selected for their expertise and capacity to drive transformative change.
According to Mr. Iddrisu, the review is not merely a bureaucratic exercise, but a “visionary step to prepare learners to be competitive in the real world of work.” He stressed that modern learners require more than textbook knowledge to succeed in today’s fast-evolving global economy.
“To succeed, our children need more than academic knowledge; they need to be critical thinkers to solve problems,” he stated.
In line with this new vision, the Ministry is set to launch a national initiative dubbed ‘Beyond Academic Skills’ next year. The program will dedicate at least one hour a week for learners to engage in practical national activities such as farming, painting, and other hands-on tasks aimed at developing mental agility, discipline, and civic responsibility.
“That will build their mental aptitude for practical things as well as build their assertiveness and make them responsible learners,” the Minister added.
He also urged the committee to design a curriculum that instills strong national values, ethics, and integrity. He was particularly vocal about the need for history education that reflects accurate and unmanipulated records, calling on the committee to settle long-standing debates around the founding of Ghana.
“Your review must settle the matter on who is the founder of Ghana and set the records on historical records of the country devoid of manipulation,” Mr. Iddrisu said.
The Committee is chaired by the Minister himself and includes notable figures such as Mrs. Mamle Andrews (Chief Director, MOE), Prof. George K.T. Oduro (Technical Advisor), Prof. Dzakadzie (Director-General, NaCCA), and Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis (Director-General, GES), among others from institutions like the National Teaching Council, TVET Service, and the National Schools Inspectorate Authority.
