Key Points
- The learning transfer gap in Ghana affects students’ performance.
- Unclear lesson purpose weakens knowledge application in real life.
- ‘Chew and pour’ culture worsens the learning transfer gap in Ghana.
In many Ghanaian classrooms today, clarity of purpose is a fading concept. Purpose is vital in guiding learners toward understanding, participation, and application of knowledge.
However, several educators appear to neglect this essential instructional component, resulting in confusion and disengagement.
Henry Atta Nyame highlights that many learners in Ghana remain unaware of why they’re given certain assignments or what some topics aim to achieve.
This lack of direction stems partly from teachers not emphasizing the “why” behind what they teach — sometimes due to limited time, language barriers, or their own lack of understanding.
Some teachers may even trivialize purpose, leading students to memorize concepts without context — a practice that weakens the ability to connect learning to reality.
Learning transfer gap in Ghana grows due to poor application
The learning transfer gap in Ghana continues to widen, as students struggle to apply academic knowledge to real-life scenarios.
According to Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, even high-performing students from competitions like the National Science and Maths Quiz face difficulties in using theoretical knowledge practically.
This disconnect between classroom knowledge and the working world has consequences. Employers often expect graduates to be job-ready but find many incapable of performing without retraining.
Frustrated by this gap, employers sometimes bypass, demote, or dismiss underprepared employees, affecting careers and institutional reputations alike.
‘Chew and pour’ culture undermines lesson clarity and real use
One of the main contributors to this crisis is the infamous “chew and pour” culture — a practice where students memorize content only to regurgitate it during exams. This method prioritizes short-term grade performance over long-term application.
Without purposeful instruction and quality resources like science labs or practical facilities, many schools fall short of producing well-rounded learners.
The 2024 Youth Barometer shows that 42.9 percent of youth believe Ghana’s education system is in decline, mainly due to its heavy focus on theory.
To reverse this trend, educators must return to purpose-driven teaching and embed learning transfer in their lesson designs. Only then can Ghana’s education system prepare students for both academic success and life beyond the classroom.
Source: Graphic Online
