The Academic Year Has Started, Where are the textbooks GES and MoE? The Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education do not have concrete answers for this question.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education are silent on when the textbooks needed to enhance teaching and learning in public schools will be provided. School reopened on 18th January yet there is no information as to when teachers and schools should expect the supply of textbooks.
In 2021 the GES promised to make the books available in 2022. But teachers have started imparting knowledge just as they have been doing since 2019 when the new curriculum was changed. Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, December 9th, 2021, Dr. Adutwum indicated that government recognizes the relevance of textbooks in education, and is working assiduously to deal with the situation.
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“Government acknowledges the need for textbooks in implementing the new curriculum and is working around the clock to supply textbooks to our basic schools. The procurement processes are ongoing,” Mr. Adwutum revealed.
Information-making rounds suggest that the textbooks may be available in schools in March 2022.
This means the first half of the contested semester calendar for Pre-Tertiary schools would have been over before the books begin to come in if the timeline provided is accurate.
In December 2021, the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum admitted the inability of the government to make available textbooks to basic school pupils. We are in the third year and only God knows when the textbooks for JHS1 students will also be out.
Where are the textbooks GES and MoE?
The absence of textbooks in schools continues to have a negative impact on learners and teachers, however; the government has not undertaken any impact assessment of their inability to supply textbooks.
The truth remains that for two good years and counting without the textbooks, it’s common sense; that impact on the quality of students will definitely not be the best.
Ghanaians have questioned the rationale behind changing everything about education including textbooks and curriculum without proper implantation structures to ensure the process is devoid of all the inefficiencies we have and continue to experience.
Private schools are beginning to look very attractive once again and parents who want to ensure their investment in their wards education without chasing over free education in public schools will be heading toward the private schools which are more organized, better managed, and supported by the various private school teachers and owners associations.
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In a related development, private schools will run the trimester system which is the best for learners at the pre-tertiary level.
The earlier the GES and MoE speed up the process to deal with the current situation the better.
Where are the textbooks? GES and MoE