EDUCATIONAL REFORM IS TO CREATE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS (PAGE 21)

THE Deputy Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Madam Benedicta Nana Biney, has emphasised that the current educational reform programme is meant to create functional and productive citizens with self confidence as well as a high sense of life.
What is equally important, she said, was the fact that the educational system would generate in the individual an awareness of societal values for national development.
“We are all aware of the fact that over the years, our youth learn very little about our values,”, she said, adding “But what we need to recognise is that no matter how much comfortable we may be with the existing state of affairs, the world and our society are going through rapid changes in all aspects of personal and national life”.
Madam Biney was speaking at the inauguration of the Naana Biney School Complex at Sefwi Wiawso.
The school complex was dedicated to Madam Biney as a result of her numerous contributions towards the improvement in the academic performance of students in the Sefwi Wiawso District when she was the district director of education.
She stressed that any system of education should be based on the recognition that it served the needs of the individual, the community in which one lived and the nation as a whole.
According to Madam Biney, the most important function of the education sector was to develop the full potential of the students to enable them to become well-balanced and productive individuals with the requisite knowledge, skills values and aptitudes.
She said for the country to cope with the effects of the rapid changes, particularly with respect to science and technology, the people must be prepared to face the challenges of change and invest in their children’s education.
“I wish to emphasise that our children are the future leaders hence we must equip them with the type of education that will give them knowledge and competencies that will enable them lead meaningful and rewarding lives,” Madam Biney stated.
In this regard, she stressed that the country’s new educational reform was geared towards improvement in the quality of life of all children of school age.
“It is meant to give them self confidence, a sense of identity and principles of quality, access and management efficiency, she stated, adding “Remember also that the reform is specially designed to break psychological barriers and give equal opportunities to both boys and girls”.
Madam Biney urged teachers to understand children’s needs and create both social and academic experiences that would motivate learning by tapping into the development needs and information level of children.
She added that it was also crucial to provide children with opportunities that promoted mainstream practical skills.
The District Chief Executive for Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Yaw Attah-Boama, noted that education was not only important for national transformation, but also for individual self actualisation and enhancement.
He said education was the most effective tool in producing well disciplined, patriotic, skilful, talented, creative, resourceful and healthy citizens who could explore and transform efficiently both the human and natural resources of the country.