The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called for a redesign of Ghana’s education system to mold graduates into problem-solvers.
The Asantehene is worried that Ghana’s graduates have become mere users of other peoples’ inventions with no direct relation to the localised problems.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who made the remarks at the 6th Quadrennial and 53rd National Delegates Conference of the Ghana National Association of Teachers held in Kumasi, did not mince words when he said Ghana has for the past years devoted its resources to producing graduates he described as ‘Lettered Illiterates’, while other countries are churning out scientists and Mathematicians who control the global economy.
“Our educational system has turned us into a vast, expanding marketplace of consumers of other people’s creations,” the Asantehene said.
“While the economies of Asia are expanding and generating billions for their creations and inventions, we are putting increasing pressure on ourselves to find the resources to consume what others have created.”
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II also observed that students bear the brunt of industrial actions occasioned by disagreements between the government and labour unions within the sector.
The Asantehene has thus urged both the labour unions and the government to improve upon their negotiations to deal with the growing threats of industrial actions.
“I urge you all to focus on the need for an improved formula of negations and consultations which will minimize if not eliminate any recourse to industrial action with harmful consequences on our children.”
