The Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Education Committee, Dr. Clement Apaak, has claimed that the committee was not consulted on the new Senior High School (SHS) curriculum, which the government began implementing on November 4.
Dr. Apaak argued that the committee had no prior knowledge of the curriculum’s purpose or the scope of changes it introduced. He challenged the Director General of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), Professor Yayra Dzakadzie, to specify when such consultations allegedly took place.
“This is the first time I’m hearing about a rollout of a completed curriculum intended to replace the existing one for Ghana’s secondary education. Anyone claiming there was extensive engagement, including with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, is misleading the public,” he stated in an interview with Joy FM’s Newsnite on Monday.
Dr. Apaak insisted that checks with other committee members confirmed they were unaware of the curriculum’s content, intent, timeline, or its potential impact on schools and students. He criticized the lack of communication and transparency on such a significant shift in the education system.
He further stated that the Education Committee intends to summon the Minister of Education and NaCCA officials when Parliament reconvenes to address the issue, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability.
In response, NaCCA’s Director General, Prof. Yayra Dzakadzie, refuted Dr. Apaak’s claims, insisting that consultations had been held and that the curriculum had been shaped based on stakeholder input. He explained that the Education Committee was engaged in discussions about the new curriculum in February 2023.
“I am surprised if the ranking member says they’ve not been engaged. We engaged every stakeholder extensively, including the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, Chiefs, and the people of Ghana,” Prof. Dzakadzie stated.
