Franklin Cudjoe presenting a certificate to a pupil
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe has called on key stakeholders of education and Ghanaians alike to give equal recognition to all subjects being taught in the school curriculum.
According to him, the practice whereby premium is laid on some subjects such as mathematics and science while others are accorded the least respect is not the best for growing the national economy.
Franklin Cudjoe made the remark in his presentation at the third Graduation, Speech and Prize Giving Day for forty-nine (49) pupils of CherryField Montessori School (CMS) located at Pokuase in the Ga West Municipal Assembly over the weekend.
The event which was under the theme ‘Holistic Education, the Foundation to National Development’ attracted a number of parents and dignitaries.
Commenting on enrolment in basic education in the country, the CEO disclosed that about 623,500 children of primary school age are not enrolled in primary school and one out of four children in kindergarten range is not in pre-school.
He added that the gap is slowly being filled by private education entrepreneurs such as Montessori Chain of Schools adopting different models of catering for the underserved particularly at the basic school level.
According to him holistic education is one that looks at educating the whole person not just focusing on academics but beyond the walls of compartmentalization to encouraging critical and reflective thinking.
He advocate the adoption of social literacy, which is beyond the ability to only read and write but encourages social interaction amongst children, saying it is a catalyst for a meaningful and transformative learning as against the transactionary type of learning where teacher gives and pupils and students take.
Dzifa Magdalene Dzifa Adzanu Atiase, Director of the School averred that the management of the school is leaving no stone unturned in the process of ensuring that pupils are comprehensively trained as far as personality, growth and development are concerned.
She stressed on the type of training that caters for the head, hand and heart through the provision of a suitable learning environment “and professionals who are dedicated deliver on their mandate.”
The Director was happy that logistics to help the school achieve it vision of being an educational hub of excellence in the country and beyond has been put in place and available for use by staff and pupils alike.
“We have come far as an institution with a big vision and mission and are determined not to relent in our effort to introduce new programmes which make pupils critical thinkers as well as problem solvers,” she stated.
By Solomon Ofori