KEY POINTS
- Rote learning undermines critical thinking in Ghana’s schools.
- Sam Jonah critiques government’s exam-focused approach.
- Calls for educational reform to foster innovation and resilience.
Sam Jonah Calls for Overhaul of Ghana’s Education SystemEducational reform crucial for Ghana’s competitive global futureSir Sam Jonah, Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), delivered a powerful critique of Ghana’s education system, expressing concerns that the current approach favors rote memorization over critical thinking and innovation.
Speaking at the Kofi Ohene-Konadu Auditorium at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Jonah emphasized that to compete globally, Ghana’s education system must shift its focus from examination results to fostering creativity and problem-solving skills.Jonah’s keynote, titled “A Critical Look at Education and Culture in Ghana to Chart a Course of National Development, Peace, and Collective Prosperity,” addressed the urgent need to reform how students are educated.
According to him, the emphasis on grades and exam performance has created a system where students prioritize memorization rather than understanding. “If Ghana is to compete in the global market of ideas, we must reform our educational mindset,” he stated, highlighting that true understanding, rather than repetition, is key to developing a capable and innovative workforce.
Rote learning vs. critical thinking
Jonah criticized the reliance on rote learning, which he argues limits students’ potential and diminishes Ghana’s intellectual capacity on the world stage. He pointed to the government’s recent distribution of past examination questions, or PASCO, to high school students as emblematic of the issue. “This decision formalizes reliance on rote memorization, sidelining genuine comprehension and innovative thinking,” he asserted. By providing students with previous exams, Jonah argued, the system encourages quick answers over deeper understanding, which could hinder students’ ability to think critically and adapt to challenges.
Jonah expressed disappointment that the government’s PASCO initiative, intended to support students, might be sending the wrong message. “We are training our future leaders to repeat or rehash the past,” he said, “instead of fostering the skills they need to innovate and adapt.” This approach, he warned, risks creating a generation that “cuts corners and replicates answers” instead of understanding concepts and developing original ideas. For Jonah, this emphasis on memorization is “lowering the standards of our children’s education.”
Calls for innovation and educational reform
Jonah urged a transformation within Ghana’s schools, advocating for an educational system that nurtures leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Instead of viewing exams as the ultimate goal, schools should become environments where problem-solving and resilience are paramount. “We need a shift from a focus on grades to cultivating young minds capable of transforming our economy,” he said. By fostering creativity and adaptability, Ghana’s educational institutions can equip students with the skills necessary to address socio-economic challenges effectively.
In closing, Jonah called for a comprehensive overhaul of the educational system, emphasizing that Ghana’s future depends on a generation capable of thinking critically and solving problems independently. He encouraged educators, policymakers, and the public to prioritize reforms that promote understanding over memorization, equipping students to succeed in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
