Ghana needs national education policy on FSHS —- Norbet Gborgbotsi

It is disheartening to witness our new flagship education program, designed to develop and serve as a bridge for the country’s human resource development, falling into disarray and deviating from our national policy. The program can be best described as “garbage in, garbage out.” Most concerning is the Free Senior High School program, lacking proper policies. It seems that, presently, social media is taking the lead in shaping our country’s education system.

Norbet Gborgbotsi, an educationist, voiced these concerns on the Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra. He emphasized the urgent need for a National Education Policy that can seamlessly align with the national development policy. Such a policy should aim to produce graduates who contribute productively and resourcefully to the country.

Gborgbotsi believes that recent unrest and vandalism in our Senior High Schools stem from indiscipline and the absence of cultural values in the curriculum. He points out that the curriculum lacks an emphasis on instilling proper upbringing and cultural values, leading to the recent unrest.

Further investigations into the causes of violence among students revealed several factors, including drug and alcohol use, mental and emotional problems, peer group influence, easy access to weapons, and exposure to violent movies and TV programs. Notably, parental involvement in instilling discipline among students has significantly declined due to current policies, leaving parents unable to play a role in maintaining order in schools.

Gborgbotsi contends that our Senior High School curriculum lacks essential training and direction, primarily due to government investments tied to a loan policy. This, he argues, restricts policymakers from making significant contributions to a policy that should encapsulate cultural values, uniting us in the learning and student development process.

A growing concern is the increasing sophistication of violence in schools, with teachers and school properties bearing the brunt of erring and violent students, as witnessed in some Senior High Schools in the country.

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