Education reform is a Collective responsibility – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that reforming Ghana’s education system is a shared responsibility that requires a collective effort from all stakeholders.
Speaking at the opening of the National Education Consultative Forum in Ho for the Volta and Oti regions, the President emphasized the importance of mutual collaboration to address the challenges facing the country’s educational sector.

“The education reform journey is a collective one that requires all voices, all perspectives, and a unified approach,” President Mahama stated.
He added that the forum, which is centered around the theme “Transforming Education for a Sustainable Future,” would provide Ghana with the opportunity to engage in honest and productive discussions on the necessary reforms to improve the educational system.

Identifying challenges and crafting solutions
The three-day forum brought together key stakeholders from the education sector to discuss a range of pressing issues, including the quality of education, infrastructure, governance, financing, and research.
President Mahama emphasized that the consultative process was aimed at bringing out the best solutions through dialogue, partnership, and shared understanding.
“Our goal today is to engage in a productive discussion about the current state of education in Ghana, diagnose the challenges, and craft an actionable roadmap for reform,” the President said.
He underscored the need for renewed urgency and additional efforts to bring solutions to the educational system, which has faced challenges such as a lack of resources, outdated curricula, and disparities in educational access.
The President highlighted several critical questions that the forum should address, including how to ensure universal access to quality education for all children, regardless of their location or socio-economic background.
He also called for reforms to equip schools and teachers with the necessary tools and resources to foster quality education, improve foundational learning, and prepare students for future studies, the workforce, and future opportunities.
“Ghanaians want an education system that nurtures them with values of honesty, creativity, responsibility, and the critical thinking skills required for the 21st century,” President Mahama stated.

Govt’s commitment to investment in education
President Mahama assured the public that the government would significantly increase its allocation of resources to foundational learning and teacher capacity development.
He also promised that the government would focus on improving infrastructure, including providing better education technology to modernize and streamline the educational process.
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach that involved parents, traditional authorities, and local communities to fully support the education process.

Sincere apologies for oversight in stakeholder invitations
The President took the opportunity to apologize to faith-based organizations for an oversight regarding their delayed invitation to the consultation forum.
Expressing regret over the omission, which was corrected quickly, he extended an apology on behalf of the planning committee for any inconvenience caused.
“As the purveyors of mercy, I trust that you will forgive us for this unintentional error and continue to participate in this important dialogue,” President Mahama said.
He acknowledged the vital role of faith-based organizations, which own many schools, in shaping the future of education and welcomed their contributions.

Shaping the future of education
Reflecting on the need for meaningful dialogue, President Mahama expressed pride that the national education consultative process had come into fruition.
He affirmed that the forum marks a significant step in fulfilling a commitment to engage Ghanaians from all walks of life in shaping the education system.
“The moment to act together is here and now,” he stressed. “Education shapes a nation’s progress and prosperity—it defines our present and determines our future.”
President Mahama also reiterated that while the country had made progress in recent years, the education system must evolve in line with the demands of modern society, including the needs of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Equitable and quality education
The President acknowledged that Ghana’s education system had not fully kept pace with 21st-century requirements.
He called for a holistic approach to ensure education became an important instrument for empowerment, social mobility, and transformation for all Ghanaians.
“Whether you are born in Accra or the remotest part of our nation, we must ensure that our education system lifts every Ghanaian child, offers opportunity, and prepares them for the future,” President Mahama concluded.