Renowned Ghanaian businessman, Sir Sam Jonah, has voiced his concerns over Ghana’s educational direction.
He criticised the recent government decision to distribute past examination papers to students as a primary study resource.
Speaking on Tuesday, November 5, on the theme How Ghana Can Successfully Educate Our Population for the Attainment of Desired Cultural Values, Peace, and Collective Prosperity, Jonah stressed the importance of cultivating comprehension, innovation, and critical thinking in Ghanaian students.
Mr Jonah described the new approach of relying heavily on past questions as a “very low first” in Ghana’s educational standards, suggesting it could hamper students’ capacity for learning and creativity.
“We ought to be troubled by the recent government decision to institutionalize the purchasing of past examination papers for distribution to students. This must be a very low first,” Jonah remarked.
He further expressed disappointment over what he sees as a formalized reliance on rote learning, which he argued is a shortcut that neglects in-depth understanding and genuine learning.
“Regrettably, this decision in itself formalizes our reliance on rote learning and memorization at the expense of content comprehension and innovative thinking,” he explained.
Highlighting the potential impact of this approach on the country’s future leaders, Sir Jonah added, “We are training our future leaders to repeat or rehash the past; to rely on shortcuts and to fear failure rather than embrace learning.”
“We are training them to cut corners, to replicate and recite, instead of understanding, innovating, and producing.”
Sam Jonah’s remarks underscore the importance of a well-rounded education system that prioritizes critical thinking over mere memorization, especially in preparing young Ghanaians to tackle modern challenges with creativity and innovation.
He urged educators and policymakers to consider reforms that would elevate the standards of Ghana’s education system and foster a generation capable of making meaningful contributions to national development.
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