The Dean of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School, Professor Kofi Abotsi, has warned against the continued politicisation of education in Ghana, saying that the practice is harming the sector and must be addressed.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Prof Abotsi said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have contributed to this problem by making education a political battleground rather than a national priority.
“The issue of education must be depoliticised. Unfortunately, because education became a flagship policy of the NPP, the NDC was forced to respond. A similar approach was taken in the late 1980s when new educational reforms were introduced, and they were heavily opposed by the then opposition. This led to the politicisation of education,” he explained.
He noted that the same pattern was repeated with the introduction of Free Senior High School (Free SHS), making it difficult for governments to implement long-term reforms without political interference.
“When a country politicises education, no one wins. Both parties end up racing to the bottom, creating inconsistencies and instability in the education sector,” he said.
Prof Abotsi stressed that Free SHS is now a permanent policy, and rather than debating its existence, the focus should be on building consensus to improve its implementation.
“The least we can do as a country is to embrace a model that ensures Free SHS remains a stable policy, regardless of which government is in power. We need to find a way to remove politics from it,” he said.
He also pointed out that Ghana’s education system must evolve to meet global standards.
“There are major issues in the education sector, and the world is not waiting for us. If we want to train a workforce that can compete internationally, our education system must be fit for purpose,” he added.
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