The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the use of local languages as a medium of instruction is now mandatory in all basic schools across the country. He explained that this initiative is part of efforts to enhance teaching and learning outcomes at the foundational level. The Minister made this announcement during the official launch of the Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities initiative, which was introduced by President John Dramani Mahama in Accra.
Mr. Iddrisu highlighted the President’s emphasis on the need to focus on basic education in order to improve learning outcomes at that level. He shared a story about a young girl in the Ashanti Region whose teacher was primarily using English during early education. The girl asked the teacher to “try to speak a little Twi so that I can understand you,” illustrating the importance of local language instruction in early learning.
“So, Mr. President, in line with that and with your authority, I am directing the Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the GES that from today, teacher use of mother tongue instruction is now compulsory in all Ghanaian schools.” The Minister further directed the GES to ensure strict enforcement of the directive.
“That a Ghanaian child was not born into an English family but a proud Ashanti Akan family and deserves to learn. This is part of President Mahama’s Reset Agenda,” he said.
Touching on the Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disability initiative, Mr Iddrisu said President Mahama was not only fulfilling a major campaign promise but also demonstrating that he remained a compassionate leader committed to improving the lives of vulnerable Ghanaians.
He explained that the initiative was aimed at ensuring inclusivity and giving true meaning to the belief that disability is not inability. Mr Iddrisu announced that the new stress-free fees initiative would cost the state and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) about GHS31 million.
“President Mahama has asked me to assure you that so long as he is President, from now until 2028, the GETFund will commit GHS50 million every other year to support a new disability fee and other associated interventions,” he said. The Minister reiterated President Mahama’s commitment to expanding access to quality and relevant education.
During President Mahama’s recent visit to China, he received a gift from his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, as part of his birthday celebration. This gift was a grant of 200 million Chinese Yuan Renminbi, which is equivalent to 30 million US dollars. Mr. Iddrisu noted that President Mahama has directed that this Chinese grant be used to establish a Science University in Damongo, the capital of the Savannah Region.
The President recognizes that access to quality secondary and higher education is a challenge in some parts of the country and acknowledges the important role of the church in partnering with the state to provide higher education. Therefore, President Mahama is dedicating the 200 million RMB for the initiation and establishment of a Catholic Science University in Damongo.
In addition to this, Mr. Iddrisu mentioned that two new technical universities would also be established in Jasikan, located in the Oti Region, and Techiman, in the Bono East Region.
Source: GNA
