Education is the foundation upon which a prosperous and thriving society is built. It equips individuals with knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities necessary for personal growth and socio-economic development. High-quality education is essential for children's overall development and future opportunities. It is in this light that the declining standard of education in Nandom Municipality becomes a pressing issue to us all.
It is therefore not surprising that as part of this year’s (2023) Kakube Festival Celebration, the Planning and the Organising Committees under the leadership of the Paramount Chief of Nandom, Naa Prof. Edmund Mwin-nyem Delle Chiir VIII, created an opportunity to solicit views to improving the falling standard of education in Nandom Municipality.
As a professionally trained teacher who taught at the basic level and now at the senior high level, I wish to use this opportunity to share my opinion in the form of an article that focuses on addressing this concern and explores strategies to improve the educational landscape in Nandom Municipality.
As an advocate for quality education in the Nandom Municipality, I have written and published articles relating to the falling standard of education in the Municipality. Some of the issues that I raised in some of my articles had been addressed by both natives and non-natives of Nandom. Below are the tittles of some of my articles on Nandom Education Trajectory: The Consistent Falling Standard of Education in Nandom, A Course for Worry, The Future of Nandom is Unclear, The Predicaments of Pupils and Teachers of Guo D/A Primary School, The Plight of Kindergarten Pupils at Naa Polkuu KG in Nandom, Pupils of Tantuo M/C Primary School Lie on their Stomachs to Write, The Plight of Kindergarten Pupils at Naapaal, The Challenges of Tampelle M/A Primary School in Nandom, These articles could be read on Ghana Web, Modern Ghana, Derbie Raphael. Blogspot.com, My News Ghana. com among other media outlets.
With regard to the above evidence-based narration, it tells you the Planning and Organising Committee, the Traditional Leaders and all Stakeholders of this Year’s Kakube Festival that as a grassroot person, I am privy to the educational trajectory in Nandom. I therefore wish to use this article to highlight key strategies that can be employed to improve the education system in the municipality and ensure a brighter future for its young generation.
First of all, a conducive learning environment is vital for students’ academic success. Traditional leaders and all stakeholders in Nandom Municipality should prioritize the improvement of school infrastructure, including classrooms, furniture, teaching and learning materials, libraries, sanitation facilities, and playgrounds. Adequate facilities and resources will create an environment that fosters effective teaching and learning. If indeed we are serious to addressing the declining standard of education in the municipality, traditional leaders should visit the various schools in the municipality and assess the infrastructural development of our basic schools. That is the first practical step I will recommend. This step will update you on the need to upgrade infrastructure and learning environment in the municipality.
The second most important thing to do is to ensure that teaching staff are reshuffled. All the teachers who cannot explain things in our mother tongue – Dagaare, should be sent to the junior high. This is because in our part of the world, most of the pupils can neither speak nor understand English Language. So, if a non-Dagaare speaking teacher is allowed to handle our Kindergarten and the lower primary pupils, there is virtually nothing good that can come out from those pupils. The problem is that the pupils will not be able to grasp the concept of whatever the teacher teaches because he/she does the explanation in a language that the pupils do not understand.
The next practical step to take to ameliorate the educational situation in the municipality is to allow experienced teachers to handle the kindergarten and the lower primary. As the saying goes, “an experienced teacher is the best teacher”. These are teachers who have taught all kind of pupils in all kind of learning environments and can improvise teaching and learning materials to make lessons easier for the understanding of the pupils. Beside that, these teachers can be used as resource persons to share their experiences with newly trained teachers in schools. The educationists will agree with me that the implementation of what is taught in the training institutions has always been a problem when the newly trained are met with the reality on the grounds.
A man must not swallow his cough because he fears to disturb the sleep of others. The unfortunate thing is that in Nandom Municipality, we cannot boast of many experienced teachers in the classrooms. The Member of Parliament and Interior Minister, Hon. Ambrose Dery, whom we thought could have been a vehicle to positively transform education in Nandom has turnout to show little interest in it. Yes, you me be thinking how. This is the man who took most of our hardworking teachers out of the classroom. These teachers are recruited in to the security services. What is more worrying is that he removed hardworking and experienced headteachers, recruited them into the security services. Meanwhile, there are still a lot of unemployed youth in the municipality engaging in social vices. So, the question is, why the recruitment of teachers who were already employed? An MP who values and prioritises education will never do this. This singular act is inimical to the progress of education in the Nandom Municipality. This is one reason why Nandom has consistently found itself at the bottom of the Districts Performance League Table. We are now left with nothing to celebrate either than only past glory.
Furthermore, the over politicisation of education in Nandom has been an obstacle to the progress of education in the municipality. This point has been confirmed by the Municipal Chief Executive Hon. Raymond Nero when he delivered his speech at the installation of the Gengengkpe Naa not long ago. He said, “education in Nandom has been politicised”. The question is, who politicised education in Nandom? The answer is glaring to all of us. If we are indeed serious to tackling education crisis in Nandom, we must be prepared to swallow the bitter pills. Traditional leaders and educationists in Nandom should sit with the Municipal Director of Education, the MCE and the Member of Parliament and advise them to stop politicising education in Nandom. Nandom is not for one person and will never be for one person. The MP must stop that attitude of "ONE-MAN SHOW". If it is not he the MP, then it should not be any other person. That time has past.
It is also alleged that the Director of Education in the municipality indiscriminately transfers teachers who are purported to be affiliated to certain political parties either than NPP. She is again alleged to have little respect for teachers and hence settles squabbles with teachers at the Nandom Police Station. How do you then get good results from such teachers? This is a director who assumes her current position with the support of the MP. Our education must not be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. The MP should be told in the face that he alone cannot improve the falling standard of education in the municipality. He must be ready to embrace the contributions of others towards this agenda, The vindictiveness, suspicions and sabotage of others’ contributions is too much in Nandom. He must stop the posturing of Jack of All.
In addition to the above, traditional leaders and educationists should make frantic efforts to engaging parents and the wider community in education for student’s success.
Parents and community members play a crucial role in supporting students' education. Therefore, establishing strong partnerships between schools, parents, and the community can significantly impact students' academic performance. Regular meetings, workshops, and engagement programs can facilitate ongoing dialogue and collaboration. Furthermore, creating avenues for parental involvement in school activities and decision-making processes enhances accountability and fosters a sense of ownership among all stakeholders.
Festivals such as the Kakube Festival among others will create a forum that will promote parental engagement and community participation.
Implementing a robust monitoring and evaluation system is crucial to ensure the effectiveness of educational interventions. Regular assessments, feedback mechanisms, and data analysis will enable stakeholders to identify areas of improvement and tailor iterventions accordingly. This system will help track students' progress and provide timely interventions for those who are struggling.
In conclusion, improving the falling standard of education in Nandom Municipality requires collaborative efforts from educators, parents, the community, and policymakers. By prioritizing upgrading infrastructure, respect for teachers, depoliticization of education, promoting parental and community engagement, establishing proactive monitoring and evaluation systems, the municipality can revitalize its education system. With sustained commitment and dedication, Nandom Municipality can provide high-quality education to its students, empowering them to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
Derbie Raphael
derbieraphael@yahoo.com
0240371356
