Houd Fadilla Lillian (right) receiving her prize
Organisers of the 2026 Skrive Foundation Open Essay Competition have called for a stronger integration of practical skills into Ghana’s education system.
At the essay competition awards ceremony, which saw students submitting essays on the theme “Should education in Ghana focus more on practical application than theoretical knowledge?”, finalists argued that classroom knowledge should translate into real-world skills and problem-solving.
Speaking at the ceremony, guest speaker Emmanuel Nikoi, said the country needs an education system that enables students to understand concepts and apply them to real-life challenges.
He said the essays demonstrate that students recognise the importance of both theoretical knowledge and practical application.
“The issue is not simply about choosing theory over practicals or practicals over theory. It is about making education meaningful and useful,” he said.
He added that the country needs young people who can learn, apply knowledge, identify problems and develop solutions.
He cited examples of students being able to understand science while also applying it, study business while creating businesses, and learn technology while using it to solve problems in their communities.
Mr. Nikoi congratulated the finalists and participants, emphasising that valuable skills such as research, writing and the courage to express ideas can contribute to their future development.
The Secretary of Skrive, Deborah Koranteng, said the theme was to highlight social perceptions surrounding vocational education, and called for a system in which vocational and academic pathways receive appropriate recognition.
“Both vocational skills and theory are good,” she said.
She stressed that the competition is intended to encourage young people to think about education beyond examinations and certificates.
Ms. Koranteng said the competition received 372 essays from young writers across 14 of Ghana’s 16 regions.
The entries came from Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, Central, Western, Volta, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Savannah and North East regions, with participants aged 14 to 30, including junior high school, senior high school and tertiary-level students.
Every essay was reviewed anonymously by an independent panel of judges and assessed out of 100 marks using four criteria.
Insightful argumentation accounted for 30 per cent, considering depth of thought, strength of argument, understanding of Ghana’s educational context and originality.
Writing and organisation accounted for 25 per cent, assessing clarity, coherence, grammar, paragraphing and logical flow.
Another 25 per cent was allocated to the use of evidence and examples, including relevant data, personal experiences and references to Ghanaian realities.
Creativity and originality accounted for the remaining 20 per cent, focusing on the writer’s voice, creative expression and ability to make readers think differently.
The competition forms part of Skrive’s broader programme of promoting literacy and creativity among young Ghanaians.
Skrive Foundation currently focuses on reading, writing and the arts, with plans to expand into sewing and fashion as well as culinary and grooming. At the awards ceremony, finalists were presented with certificates of participation.
Winner Houd Fadilla Lillian received a GH¢5,000 cash prize, a MacBook and stationery.
First runner-up Christiana Boamah Donkor received GH¢3,000 and stationery, while second runner-up Lois Saneka Kombat received GH¢2,000 and stationery.
Skrive Foundation plans to launch Skrive Designs as a 2027 project focused on sewing, fashion, design and textile art.
Organisers said details of the project would be published on the organisation’s website by December 2026.
Skrive Foundation is a non-governmental organisation that promotes arts and literacy among young people.
By Florence Adom Asamoah & Vera Owusu Sarpong