Accra: Professor Peter Quartey, Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social, and Economic Research (ISSER), has expressed support for the government's initiative to conduct a comprehensive review of Ghana's educational system in order to better align it with contemporary needs. He emphasized the importance of reassessing government policies, particularly in education, to address inefficiencies within the sector.
According to Ghana News Agency, Prof. Quartey has consistently advocated for a review of the free Senior High School policy. While acknowledging the policy's benefits, he believes that revisiting and improving it is essential. He underscored the necessity of evaluating policies to ensure they are monitored, refined, and efficient.
On January 9, President John Dramani Mahama unveiled a plan aimed at overhauling Ghana's education sector through a National Education Review Conference. This initiative, encompassing all educational levels from kindergarten to tertiary, including Technical and Vocational Education (TVET), seeks to address systemic issues and align the educational system with the demands of a rapidly evolving world.
In response to this announcement, Prof. Quartey emphasized the need for a comprehensive review that addresses all aspects of education. He argued against focusing resources on a single sector, advocating for a balanced distribution across various educational areas.
Prof. Quartey also called for the review conference to be a national, non-partisan dialogue involving academics and experts with relevant technical expertise in the education field. He stressed the importance of involving competent individuals in the discussion to propose solutions for improving the country's educational system.
He highlighted that the recommendations from the dialogue should be fully implemented to enhance education in Ghana. Additionally, he suggested that the government should consider the nation's needs when deciding whether to prioritize humanities or engineering programs, pointing out the decline in the country's manufacturing base and the need for more focus on engineering fields.
Prof. Quartey proposed the establishment of a scholarship scheme to encourage students to pursue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), and TVET. He explained that such an initiative would help produce more analytical minds, thereby expanding the manufacturing sector and creating more employment opportunities for the population.
