Two months and counting, no books for the new curriculum – Clement Apaak quizzes Akufo-Addo and NaCCA
Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak says the Akufo-Addo led administration owes Ghanaians an explanation for the delay in giving a definite date on when teaching and learning materials will be made available to pupils in the basic schools.
The MP argues that two months and counting is enough time to come with learning materials for the students in the basic schools.
His comments come after the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) had earlier issued a statement cautioning teachers and parents not to buy or use any unapproved textbooks from private suppliers that are said to be materials approved for the new education curriculum.
“We wish to inform all heads of schools, parents and the general public that NaCCA has not yet approved any textbook for the new curriculum, ” the NaCCA had stated in their release.
Builsa South MP, who is also the Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, in a statement found this to be unacceptable noting the Akufo-Addo government is being insensitive and incompetence in this matter.
According to him, the unavailability of these teaching and learning books curtails the progress of academic work and this situation should be taken seriously, especially when it comes to educating future leaders of the country.
” Where else in the world is a new curriculum launched without textbooks to ensure that the objectives of the curriculum are achieved? How do we expect teachers to implement the new curriculum without textbooks and supplementary readers?, he quizzed.
According to him, Ghanaians must demand accountability from those we have entrusted with power.
He urged Ghanaians not to accept such gross incompetence on the part of the government with regards to our children’s education.
Find below the statement from Dr. Clement Apaak
RE: UNAPPROVED TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY LEARNING MATERIALS.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) says some Publishers are selling textbooks and other supplementary learning materials to schools and the general public purported to have been approved by it for the new Standards-Based Curriculum (KG-B6).
NaCCA in a letter signed by its Director and dated 31st October 2019, said “We wish to inform all heads of schools, parents and the general public that NaCCA has not yet approved any textbook for the new curriculum”.
From the foregoing, it is clear that our basic schools: teachers and students, have no teaching and learning materials based on the new Curriculum, though the basic schools reopened on September 10th, 2019. This raises a number of questions that require answers:
1. How does NaCCA expect the teachers to teach in the absence of textbooks since September 10th, 2019? Is NaCCA not the reason for substandard textbooks parading the basic schools now?
2. The new curriculum which came into effect on September 10th, 2019 is designated ”standard based”. Well and good. However, without textbooks, whose standard are the teachers teaching to, their own individual standards as they deem fit?
3. When will teaching and learning materials based on the new curriculum be approved and made available to the basic schools? Are they even being produced?
4. Where else in the world is a new curriculum launched without textbooks to ensure that the objectives of the curriculum are achieved? How do we expect teachers to implement the new curriculum without textbooks and supplementary readers?
The Nana Akufo-Addo led NPP Government owes Ghanaians an explanation as to why two months on, there are no books based on the new curriculum. Government must give a definite date on when teaching and learning material based on the new curriculum will be made available to the basic schools.
Ghanaians must not accept such gross incompetence and insensitivity, especially when it has to do with the future of our nation, educating the future leaders. We must demand accountability from those we have entrusted with power.
Signed.
Dr. Clement Abasinaab Apaak
M.P Builsa South and Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament