Private Schools call for access to information on New Standard-Based Curriculum

Mr Joseph Dzamesi, the Administrator of Sonrise Christian High School, has called for private schools across the country to be granted access to information and training on the new Standard-Based Curriculum for Senior High Schools (SHS).Mr Dzamesi who made the call during the school's 16th graduation ceremony, highlighted the exclusion of private school teachers and administrators from training programmes designed to support the curriculum's implementation.He said while public school educators, including headmasters and administrators, had been trained by institutions such as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Transforming Teaching, Education, and Learning (T-TEL), and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), private schools had been left out of the process.'We too, educate Ghanaian children, and we need access to the same information and training on the new curriculum to prepare our students effectively,' he said.Mr Dzamesi's remarks came as part of his report on the sc hool's academic performance during the graduation ceremony.He appealed to the government to recognise the critical role private schools play in the education sector, noting that they should be treated as partners rather than competitors.'Many of us in the private sector are doing our best to provide access to quality education. By doing so, we help relieve pressure on government schools.'However, we often feel neglected when it comes to resources and training. Private school educators do not benefit from the resources and training programs that are provided to public schools, leaving us to fend for ourselves and seek information on our own,' he lamented.Mr Dzamesi called on the government to ensure that private schools are included in future training programmes for the new curriculum, allowing them to adequately prepare their teachers and students for the changes ahead.Dr Esther Adzo Yeboah-Adzimah, the Ho Municipal Director of Education, assured that plans were already underway to involve private s chools in the training programs for the new Standard-Based Curriculum.She emphasised the need for proper collaboration between private school associations and the government to ensure seamless integration of private schools into the curriculum's implementation.'The government is not ignoring private schools. Plans are being put in place to include them in upcoming training sessions. It is also important for private school associations to work closely with the government during these engagements to ensure the effective implementation of the curriculum,' she said.The new Standard-Based Curriculum, developed by NaCCA, is set to be implemented in the next academic year, starting with students entering SHS in the upcoming school term.This curriculum aims to modernize and improve the quality of education in Ghana, focusing on critical thinking, problem-solving, and practical skills development.As the education sector prepares for this significant shift, the inclusion of private schools in training and res ource allocation will be crucial in ensuring that all Ghanaian students, regardless of the type of institution they attend, benefit equally from the new educational framework.Source: Ghana News Agency