Eduwatch calls for phased rollout of reviewed KG, primary curriculum

Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has called on the government to adopt a deliberate, well-resourced and phased approach to implementing Ghana’s reviewed Kindergarten (KG) and Primary School Curriculum.

The Ministry of Education received a fully revised Kindergarten to Primary Six (KG-P6) curriculum from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) on July 23.

Among the new reforms are attempt to make Ghanaian languages compulsory from KG to Primary Three (Primary 3) to boost early literacy.

It also introduces optional early oral exposure to languages including Chinese, Arabic, and French alongside English as the official medium of instruction as well as foundational coding, electronics, artificial intelligence awareness, and ethics.

The education think tank said while the curriculum review presents an opportunity to improve foundational learning, citizenship education and competency-based learning, its success will depend on adequate preparation and effective implementation.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 28, Eduwatch commended the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) for revising the curriculum but cautioned that previous implementation challenges must be addressed to achieve the intended outcomes.

Eduwatch said a strong curriculum document alone cannot improve learning outcomes without investments in teacher preparation, teaching and learning resources, sustainable financing and institutional capacity.

“Worth noting is that a strong curriculum document alone will not improve learning outcomes. The effectiveness will depend on teacher preparedness, adequate teaching and learning resources, institutional capacity, sustainable financing and effective implementation support," the statement read in part.

The organisation noted that NaCCA’s recommendation for a phased nationwide rollout from the 2027/2028 academic year should be guided by demonstrated readiness rather than a fixed timeline.

It urged the Ministry of Education to develop and publish a costed Curriculum Implementation Readiness Plan outlining activities, responsibilities, timelines, financing needs and measurable benchmarks before the rollout begins.

Eduwatch further recommended comprehensive teacher training, stakeholder orientation, provision of teaching materials, strong monitoring systems, continuous improvement mechanisms and adequate resources for NaCCA to oversee the implementation process.

The think tank argued that a phased approach would allow authorities to test implementation arrangements in selected schools, identify challenges and refine strategies before expanding nationwide.