Marian Ansah writes : The state of education and the politics of Arabic language

I have been entertaining the vain promises being made by Ghanaian politicians in this election season but this particular policy to make Arabic language examinable in schools is one I cannot be silent about.

It is very saddening, in fact worrying that government considers it relevant to introduce such a policy at a period when students are still struggling to understand, read and write English – the official language or any other Ghanaian language properly. A research conducted in Ghana in 2014 revealed that 98 percent of primary two pupils in basic schools can neither read nor understand English or any Ghanaian language . I am therefore disappointed that government finds it more essential to introduce this policy when it has not done much to address existing language problems in the sector.

Why should this policy be a major priority now when Government and the other key stakeholders are ill-prepared?The language policy, which requires students to learn the local language is yet to be implemented. Our educational sector is in a mess; teachers are in short supply, the Computerized School Selection and Placement System is disorganized. But instead of the government focusing on tackling these challenges, they want to add to the confusion.

And while the government and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) obsess about who first came up with this idea, I wonder what measures it has taken to fix the already existing Arabic schools in the country. What is the plan to make sure their curriculum is regularized and that they have the facilities for effective teaching and learning? I also wonder how the government intends to get teachers for the subject since it has indicated that the programme will be rolled out in 2017.

I am not downplaying the essence of learning the Arabic language but it cannot be implemented at a period when Ghanaian students are still struggling with French. French is important because of our neighbors – there are jobs and opportunities across our borders but most Ghanaians cannot take advantage of that opportunity because of our inadequacy in that language.

It would all be good if government focuses on fixing these crippling challenges before introducing other interventions.Let us not put the cart before the horse.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana, [email protected]

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