Baiden’s file

GHANA’S BOGUS EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

As I sit in my averagely furnished office preparing for the day, I cannot but think of my beloved Ghana and the future of its youth. I must confess, when I was younger, I had fairytale dreams and aspirations which were only matched by the might and splendor of Alexander the great. Fast forward to some twenty years later, it only seemed a mirage. I ask myself, what has happened to those fairytale dreams and aspirations I had? Are they gone forever? Are they on hibernate mode? Or I haven’t just gotten the right opportunity to explore? Whatever the answer is, I’ll keep that to myself.

As an educationist, I’ve come in contact with lots of theories that seek to explain human behaviour and implications. One of such is Noam Chomsky, who argued that humans are pre-programmed to acquire language…. Hence there’s a kind of automatic knob in every humans which will help you acquire language irrespective of where you are. I’m a follower of the ideology that a child can be whatever he/she wants to be provided the environment is conducive and suitable for him/her. That is to say, if a child was given birth to in a village and the environment skewed right, that child will turn up into a fine lady or gentleman just like the one given birth to in Accra. The difference is the exposure. (Sorry to bore you with the educational theories)

What’s my point!? I cry for the budding youth of Ghana. The youths are as blind people with no direction whatsoever. It’s not odd to see a young girl or boy in the SHS not knowing what programme or course he/she will pursue in the tertiary institution. Meanwhile, this same child about 7 or 8 years ago had hopes of becoming a lawyer, doctor, pilot, engineer, lecturer, etc. What has happened to those dreams?? Is our educational system wrecking the youths? Children in the basic school are saddled with lots of “unnecessary” subjects to learn…. Subjects which will eventually have no link or bearing to what they become. Can’t we modify our educational system for our own good?

This and many more are the things I think about when I sit in my office. Given the chance to manage the education ministry, I’ll bring radical changes which I believe which inure to the benefit of all Ghanaian youth. (Please, tell Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, a.k.a, Napo- Education minister, I’m not eyeing his position now… I don’t want trouble oo)

I shall be back when I have the time again.

Writer:Samuel Baiden
Acknowledge Samuel Baiden an Educationist