Gov’t poorly managed basic school curriculum reforms – Eduwatch

Education think tank – Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) following confusion about subjects to be compulsory and optional for the 2024 BECE for School says the government has poorly managed the basic school curriculum reforms.

The Director of the Watch, Kofi Asare expressing worry over Computing as an optional subject for the BECE said “I know many are concerned Computing will not be compulsorily examined at BECE 2024; but it is fair to exclude children

By 2018, the Ministry of Education knew that after making Computing a standalone compulsory subject at the basic level, all public basic schools required functioning computer laboratories and a tutor to give effect.

Functioning computer laboratories with internet and coding facilities are basic in the urban private schools our kids and those of our leaders attend.

Every Ghanaian child, regardless of their geography or economic status deserves quality digital literacy at the basic level.

Knowing this, we did nothing, expecting only a few schools with functioning computer laboratories to benefit fully from that curriculum, while over 60% of schools taught computing on the blackboard; without even textbooks in JHS.

What future are we carving for the 70% of children aged 6-14 in the north who have never used a computer? Is this how to build an equitable education system?

Until every school has functioning computers to teach Computing, it will be unconscionable and unfair to make it compulsory at BECE-Leave no one behind,” the think tank Director said in a social media post sighted by Thisterm.com.

Barring any last-minute changes, the 34th edition of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will be administered from July 8, 2024, to July 12, 2024, by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).