The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced a comprehensive review of Ghana’s education curriculum aimed at equipping students with 21st-century skills and making them more competitive in the global job market.
According to the Minister, government is currently awaiting inputs from key education stakeholders as part of a nationwide curriculum review process. Once finalised, the revised curriculum will lead to the printing and distribution of new textbooks and teachers’ guides beginning early next year, marking a major shift in Ghana’s education system.
New Curriculum to Focus on Practical and Digital Skills
Speaking on December 24, Mr. Iddrisu revealed that the technical committee overseeing the review is making steady progress and is expected to conclude its work in 2026.
“The technical committee is working, and that is one of the major policy decisions the Ministry took in 2025 to bring finality to the process into 2026. The curriculum will be made available, teachers’ guides will be made available, and then we will get them printed,” he stated.
He explained that the revised curriculum will emphasise critical thinking, analytical skills, and practical competencies, reflecting the demands of modern education and the world of work.
“We will be introducing robotics, coding, electronics and financial literacy as we prepare our learners for the world of work,” the Minister added.
Curriculum Described as Outdated
Mr. Iddrisu described Ghana’s current curriculum as outdated, noting that it has negatively affected the quality of graduates produced over the years. He also identified the lack of textbooks as a major barrier to effective teaching and learning across schools nationwide.
The Education Minister made these remarks during the inauguration of four Colleges of Education in Accra, including Al-Farouck College of Education, Agogo College of Education and Gbewa College of Education.
Addressing infrastructure challenges, Mr. Iddrisu acknowledged that many Colleges of Education are facing severe deficits. He announced that government will expand a $200 million World Bank facility to embark on a nationwide infrastructure development drive starting next year.
GETFund Allocates GH¢100 Million for Special Needs Education
The Minister also highlighted reforms under the amended GETFund law, which now prioritises support for students with disabilities and special needs. He disclosed that GH¢100 million has been allocated to finance inclusive and quality education.
“Through GETFund, an amount of 100 million cedis has been dedicated to roll out a new initiative to finance free education, including feeding, in all special and integrated schools for about 9,000 learners,” he said.
He noted that the initiative aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to supporting marginalised groups in society.
Government Rejects Blame for WASSCE Mass Failure
Meanwhile, Mr. Iddrisu has rejected claims that government should be blamed for the mass failure recorded in the recent WASSCE examinations. He said government, together with relevant agencies, will not accept the poor performance and is currently studying the Chief Examiners’ Report to guide policy reforms from next year.
“I refuse to accept, and the government of President Mahama, the Ministry of Education and the assessment bodies will not accept this poor performance,” he stressed.
Infrastructure and Application of Knowledge Identified as Key Issues
The Education Minister described the WASSCE results as a wake-up call for a broader review of quality assurance in secondary education. He cited long-standing neglect of school infrastructure as a contributing factor.
“Many of these institutions, from 2008 to today, are still in a deplorable state. Not a dormitory or classroom has been added to some of the schools, and naturally that affects the quality of education delivery,” he noted.
Mr. Iddrisu added that preliminary assessments suggest the problem may lie more in the application of knowledge, particularly in mathematics, rather than the conduct of the examinations by WAEC.
“Government is studying the Chief Examiners’ Report and will respond appropriately,” he assured.
The proposed reforms signal a renewed push by government to modernise Ghana’s education system, address long-standing challenges, and prepare learners for a rapidly evolving global economy.
