The new educational reform launched only last week by President J.A. Kufuor has been criticised by Professor Saa Dito, Dean of students of the University for Development Studies (UDS) as unnecessary and uncalled for.
He said that the reforms would not produce any positive results in the country but rather impoverish the parents and worsen falling standards.
Prof. Dito stressed that the frequent changes in the education system were re¬sponsible for the fallen standard of education in the country and said that it should be a worry to both parents and students.
He made this criticism in Tamale when he delivered a paper on the role of children in the promotion of good governance at the 2007 Easter School for Children at the week¬end.
The Easter school for children which was on the theme, “Looking for a missing child@50” is being organised by Children Rights International (CRI) and sponsored by the UNICEF.
Prof Dito lamented that while students were now recovering from the pain and hard¬ship of the last education reforms, they were again going to be forced to go through yet another ordeal of education reform.
He said the changes mean that all the textbooks, syllabuses and assessment pro¬cedures will have to change and asked: “Why should our children go through this torture when they are just about to settle down with the last reforms.”
Prof. Dito agreed that something ought to be done to improve quality education in the country but said more attention should be paid to teachers and the provision of the teaching material to all schools in the country.
He appealed to the President and his advisors on education to reconsider the decision and modify the reforms to en¬hance quality education in the country.
Prof. Dito also blamed academi¬cians in the country for problems facing children, saying that instead of analysing and debating national issues dispassionately, they are rather becom¬ing partisan and spokespersons for poli¬ticians.
Prof. Dito challenged the children to take their studies serious, be courageous and speak out on issues concerning them.
However, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Tamale Mohammed Amin Adam described Prof. Dito's remarks as uninformed and ill-conceived.
He argued that the reform launched by President Kufuor was meant to im¬prove quality education and correct some lapses that were hindering academic per¬formance of students in the country.
Mr. Amin added that the new reforms were necessary to bring the country's educational system to conform with international standards.
Turning to the children, he urged them not to relent in their efforts but stick to their books so that they could become responsible leaders in future.
Mr. Amin also challenged his col¬league district chief executives and other stakeholders to place premium on the development of the child.
Culled from Ghanaian Times
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