As the nation awaits the approval of Education Minister-designate, Haruna Iddrisu, a leading education advocate has issued a stern warning: depart from the authoritarian approach of your predecessor and engage with stakeholders to revitalize Ghana’s ailing education sector.
Speaking in an interview with Kojo Marfo on AbusuaNkommo at Abusua955FM, Prince Opoku Afriyie, President of the National Social Studies Association, has cautioned Haruna Iddrisu to eschew the top-down approach that characterized the tenure of Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, whose administration was criticized for ignoring the input of teachers, parents, and other stakeholders.
He said “One thing I dislike about Adutwum is that he doesn’t take others’ opinions seriously. Once he’s made up his mind, he doesn’t consider people’s input”.
Prince Afriyie’s warning is not without merit. He revealed that during Dr. Adutwum’s tenure, the education sector was plagued by a top-down approach that ignored the input of teachers, parents, and other stakeholders.
“If you attend a teachers’ meeting, everyone there is knowledgeable, It’s a sector where, if you’re not a good listener who takes inputs from key stakeholders, you’ll find it challenging”, Prince Afriyie noted
He, however noted that the consequences of this approach by Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum were dire, describing his policies as theoretically based, which has render the sector poorly equipped and under-resourced.
“The level to which he raised education standards looked excellent on paper, but in reality, it was poor because there were no equipment or tools to cope with the policies.”
He believes that Member of Parliament for Builsa South Clement Apaak, a veteran education advocate, would have been a better choice for the Education Minister position. “During the NDC’s time in opposition, Apaak was often the one dealing with education issues, he’s well aware of the problems and challenges in the sector due to his interactions with us”, Prince Afriyie explained
In contrast, Prince Afriyie is less familiar with Haruna Iddrisu’s interpersonal skills, although he acknowledges his experience and calm demeanor.
www.kumasimail.com / Kwadwo Owusu
