The Minister of Education, Dr. Osei Yawutwum, asserts that despite the available data indicating the improvement in education standards in Ghana, some individuals deliberately choose to ignore the progress and instead criticize its success.
Dr. Adutwum indirectly responds to former President John Mahama, who has undermined the 70% pass rate of SHS students in the 2023 WASCEE, claiming that the students colluded with teachers to cheat. He emphasizes that those who make such allegations to downplay the advancement in education are uninformed about the situation.
During the 63rd Anniversary of the Ghana Muslim Mission in Kumasi, Dr. Adutwum expresses, "Some individuals lack awareness of the educational progress in the country." He further adds, "They erroneously claim that the standard of education has declined, unaware of the facts."
To illustrate his point, the Minister of Education refers to the statistics for Science exams. He highlights that in 2015, under the leadership of the president at the time, only 28% of candidates passed the Science subject. However, now the pass percentage for Integrated Science is 68%, indicating significant improvement. Therefore, anyone asserting a decline in education standards is misinformed.
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Dr. Adutwum also mentions the increased enrollment in SHS, which has risen by 600,000 since the implementation of the Free SHS Policy in 2017. He attributes the success rate in WASCEE exams to the positive impact of the Free SHS Policy introduced by President Akufo-Addo's government.
The Minister of Education emphasizes that Free SHS ensures inclusivity and relieves many financially disadvantaged families. He notes that in the past, numerous students dropped out of school due to financial constraints, which prevented them from reaching their full potential. However, now, with Free SHS, Nana Addo guarantees that no Ghanaian child will face such obstacles. The policy promotes equality by enabling the poor to access the same schools as the affluent. Dr. Adutwum is personally committed to ensuring the continued success of Free SHS and opposes any attempts to revoke it.
Dr. Adutwum envisions bringing Ghana's education system to a level comparable to that of developed countries. He highlights the government's efforts in providing quality secondary education and substantial investments in technical and vocational training facilities. Additionally, there has been noteworthy progress in the performance of students within the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
The Minister asserts that Ghana's education is advancing, and its young students can effectively compete with their foreign counterparts. The emphasis remains on elevating education to unprecedented heights for the betterment of the country.
