Govt developing mathematics curriculum for blind students – MoE

Minister of Education and Tamale South Member of Parliament Honourable Haruna Iddrisu says the central government is developing the mathematics curriculum for blind students at the Senior High School (SHS) level.

The Education Minister disclosed the ongoing initiative to help blind students in public second-cycle schools across the country at the inauguration of a 12-member Governing Council of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in Accra.

The Mathematics curriculum initiative, Mr Haruna Iddrisu said, would allow visually impaired students to continue their education in mathematics and gain access to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers.

“In addition, we are developing a Ghanaian Sign Language curriculum for disabled persons to ensure that instructions for students who are deaf or have hearing issues will be supported,” the Minister for Education said.

Addressing the Ghana Education Service Council, the Tamale South lawmaker tasked the Council to work together with other stakeholders to develop the first-ever digital education policy for the country, latest by 2026.

The policy, the Minister in Charge of Education stressed, would define how to mainstream Information Communication and Technology (ICT) and make it integral to the development of the people, beginning from kindergarten to senior high school.

He further urged the management of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to work with the Ghana Education Service (GES) to have a uniform and standard calendar for the Basic Education Certificate Examination.

The Council, chaired by Prof. Mawutor Avoke, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), is expected to provide strategic direction and oversight to the Pre-Tertiary Education sector.

The Council members are Dr Rosemond Wilson, Head of National Office, WAEC; Prof Azeko Tahiru Salifu, Director-General, National Schools Inspectorate Authority; and Mr Adam Adu Marshall, a representative from the National Teaching Council.

Others include Prof Yayra Dzakadzie, Director General, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment; Right Rev.Paa Solomon Grant-Essilfie, representing the teacher associations on a rotational basis.

In a related development, the Minister of Education, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, has inaugurated a committee tasked with reviewing and revising the country’s pre-tertiary school curriculum, from Kindergarten (KG) to primary six.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Education Minister and Member of Parliament for Tamale South constituency said the school curriculum review committee has a wealth experience and dedicated individuals.

Honourable Haruna Iddrisu urged the committee members reviewing the curriculum of kindergarten one to Primary six to develop a comprehensive policy to meet the needs of 21st-century learning skills.

He charged the committee to develop a curriculum that would identify the learners with their national values, ethics and integrity to work for the good of society.

The Sector Minister in Charge of Education further charged the curriculum review committee to ensure that there is the production of ethical and responsible learners to advance development in the country.

“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, saying the members were selected due to their experience and capabilities to execute their mandates.

The Committee, the Minister for Education stressed, was a visionary step to prepare learners to be competitive in the real world of work.

“To succeed, our children need more than academic knowledge; they need to be critical thinkers to solve problems. Next year, we are looking at launching an initiative dubbed ‘Beyond Academic Skills’ to have at least an hour or more for learners to undertake some national exercise like farming or painting,” he said.

The Committee, which is chaired by the Minister, include Mrs Mamle Andrews, Chief Director of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Professor George K.T. Oduro, Technical Advisor to the Minister, Professor Dzakadzie, Director General of the National Council

Others are Prof Ernest Kofi Davis, Director General of Ghana Education Service (GES); and Prof Azeko Salifu Tahiru, Inspector of Schools, National Schools Inspectorate Authority.

Also included are Prof Christian Addai Poku, Registrar, National Teaching Council; Dr Eric Adzore, Director General, TVET Service; Nana Baffour Awuah, Director, Pre-Tertiary of MOE; and Ms Rejoice Dankwa, Director, TVET.

The rest are Mr Insah Shirzu, Director, Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring and Evaluation, MOE; Mavis Asare Donkor, Director, General Administration, MoE; and Dr Samuel Awuku, Education and Development Consultant.