“AI Has Changed Everything”—Anis Haffar Says Critical Thinking Must Replace Rote Learning
The Chief Examiner for the 2026 Literacy Challenge, Anis Haffar, is urging Ghana’s education sector to urgently shift from memorisation‑based learning to critical thinking, warning that artificial intelligence and digital access to information have completely transformed how students must learn and solve problems.
Speaking at the launch on Thursday, July 2, he said today’s learners no longer face the information barriers of previous generations.
“Remember in our time, information was sacrosanct. You could only get it from teachers or books. Then Google came along, and now AI has taken over. Every information under the sun is available,” he noted.
Haffar explained that while technology has made learning easier, it has also reduced reliance on traditional teaching methods — making independent thinking, problem‑solving and creativity more essential than ever.
He argued that education must now train students to use available tools to tackle real‑world challenges rather than simply recall facts.
“What we are looking for now are solutions to societal problems, because these tools are available for us to use,” he said, adding that human values and responsibility remain central despite technological advancement.
Haffar also encouraged students to embrace competition, describing it as a natural part of life and professional growth.