You are here: HomeNews2014 04 22Article 306926

Ghana’s exam-centered education must change - Prof. Baah

This article is closed for comments.

Read Comments Comments (65)

  • Cha 10 years ago

    Our education isnt helping our progress at all because of the mindset

  • insight to the bone 10 years ago

    Look at the face of this so called minister of trade and you see this is a brainless idiot the kind the Europeans like . Did he ever consider how long it takes a country to become member of the EU , some countries took over 2 ...
    read full comment

  • John,Tema 10 years ago

    Don't you get tired fooling?Why do you waste your time fooling on Ghanaweb?

  • Kojo T 10 years ago

    He is the epitome of the chew, pour pass system. he cannot THINK

  • STOP AND THINK 10 years ago

    YES, PROF YOU ARE RIGHT, WE IN GHANA ARE NOT IMPARTING KNOWLEDGE BUT RATHER WASTING OUR YOUTHS PRECIOUS ENERGY TO STUDY ONLY EXAMS QUESTIONS, WHICH ADD NOTHING TO KNOWLEDGE. IF THIS WILL BE POSSIBLE, THERE IS A NEED FOR ALL T ...
    read full comment

  • STOP AND THINK 10 years ago

    HEADMASTERS REFUSE TO ALLOW STUDENTS EVEN A TERM OR TWO WHEN THEY ENTER SHS TO TEST THEIR STRENGTH IN THE SUBJECTS THEY ARE PLACED IN, AND IF NOT OK WITH THEM MAKE CHANGES, NO, IT IS NOT ALLOWED. THEY THINK THE TIME IS TOO SH ...
    read full comment

  • Gye Nyame 10 years ago

    Most US universities use a combination of the SAT and a student's GPA for admissions. Our problem is we don't do a continuous assessment of children which starts in the 3rd grade in the US to assess the curriculum, teacher tr ...
    read full comment

  • Yaa Nkosuo 10 years ago

    I've compared both systems are will still root for our system of education. Even the whites are educating their children in Ghana.
    I flew out of Gh last October with a group of predominantly white/Latino- looking students fr ...
    read full comment

  • Yaa Nkosuo 10 years ago

    In the West too, the lack of that form of assessment also creates laxity.
    Why do you think they want childen from other cultures to mix in the classrooms with their children?
    Because it spurs their kids on.
    End of year/t ...
    read full comment

  • Yaa Nkosuo 10 years ago

    Mind you, this doctor had only been newly qualifed and be not more than 30 years old

  • Claymore 10 years ago

    Yaa Nkosuo, what you've said about the Burmese person actually confirms the Prof's thesis that the current system of testing through exams only produces rote learners who can't think. You have no evidence that test taking pro ...
    read full comment

  • YOUR IDEAS? 10 years ago

    SO WHAT YOUR CREATIVE IDEAS, NKOSUO?
    HE GAVE HIS.
    WHERE ARE YOURS?

  • GHFUO, be serious & change ur MENtali 10 years ago

    .....IS LOST LABOUR!
    WHY DONT U GRADE THEM BASED ON THE SERIES OF ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE ENTIRE TERM. THIS INCLUDES IN CLASS QUIZES, PARTICIPATION, MIDTERM ESSAYS, FINAL TERM EXAMS, TERM PAPERS ETC...
    YOU CANT BASE A STUDENTS ...
    read full comment

  • Jasmin 10 years ago

    We need a bespoke Ghanaian educative system that takes into consideration our social, cultural and economic needs. Applying western paradigm in a Ghanaian context hook line and sinker is not going to do the trick. Our educati ...
    read full comment

  • Glo 10 years ago

    Did you read the article? Your comments have nothing to do with it.

  • insight to the bone 10 years ago

    exactly, why bother when we all know the illiterate jj fucked up the school system

  • INSIGHT WITHOUT BRAINS 10 years ago

    "Did he ever consider how long it takes a country to become member of the EU , some countries took over 2 decades yet pepeni and his bunch of idiots think they can achieve what now ? Does he realize that Turkey though been ne ...
    read full comment

  • Uncle T 10 years ago

    I agree with you 100% Prof! the first step in the direction of your thinking is to train teachers to be able to mentor and guide independent and creative thinking. Many of them have been brought up in the "chew, pour, pass an ...
    read full comment

  • John,Tema 10 years ago

    Ghana is doomed forever it is even very difficult to tell who is intelligent and who is not.In advanced countries like USA,Germany,Japan,Russia etc intelligent pupils can be picked in kindergarten and then groomed to be scien ...
    read full comment

  • Kojo T 10 years ago

    In Ghana , we destroy the thinkers. Children are to be seen. not heard. If you start asking questions , you get beaten. But how many schools teach from a practica point of view . We need to concentrate on a discovery approach

  • Uncle T 10 years ago

    Excellent! Kojo. No wonder you have a "T" added to your name. We are breaks. Some want "John" to be added to their names.

  • STOP AND THINK 10 years ago

    WISH ALL THE GOOD IDEAS HERE ARE PUT INTO USE, WHO WILL DO THIS FOR US?

  • Uncle T 10 years ago

    You are talking like a typical Ghanaian: hollow and all-knowing? Do you know the educational system and curricula of the countries you are just rattling? Equal opportunities are given to all children in a conducive learning e ...
    read full comment

  • John,Tema 10 years ago

    You don't know what you are talking about?I have met 13,14 & 15 year olds in Russian High Schools who have qualified to various Universities to study science.That is why they are always playing on the moon.

  • Y. BILAL 10 years ago

    for a very long time now i have been praying for someone prominent to see this flaws. thank you Prof. for highlighting this. I think we should rather be focusing on research based education than exams.

  • Obiba Kwame 10 years ago

    Wesleyan University is not an Ivy League School, but I agree with the Professor that there are more innovative ways of assessing students than the approach we take in Ghana.

    I am always troubled by the fact that at the age ...
    read full comment

  • MAJEED DRAMANI MAHAMA 10 years ago

    I strongly agree with prof it time to change the system.

  • Ghanaba 10 years ago

    Most of our lecturers in our Universities in Ghana were trained in UK where they do jobs while doing PhD. I will not understand this Prof. You are talking about research by undergraduates. Your colleague lecturers do not have ...
    read full comment

  • Ken 10 years ago

    The Prof couldn't have said it better about our exam centered school. I remember my government lecturer motto was " Chew, Paw, Pass and forget". This is a very prominent teacher in one of the best secondary schools in Ghana. ...
    read full comment

  • mojingles 10 years ago

    All those praising Mr. Baah are like him, a bunch of jackasses...there is no educational system in the world where examinations come in second...In China, Korea and Japan, students study like crazy to get into universities... ...
    read full comment

  • Yaa Nkosuo 10 years ago

    Read my comment too. You are the only sensible person in this forum. The examples you give are just what I cited.
    Our Africans are always criticising their own system forgetting that is what they were instructed and nurtured ...
    read full comment

  • Nyansasem 10 years ago

    Use your brain well to analyze what he said and stop thinking with your fingers as soon as you read captions from some useless Ghanaian journalists.

    It seems most of you did not take your time to analyze what the Prof is s ...
    read full comment

  • monsieur kunkpewuo 10 years ago

    Heeiii prof, very nice piece n a good damage control.keep it up

  • Tom 10 years ago

    Prof, you are wrong. Wesleyan is not an Ivy League institution!!!!

  • MAHAMA LOOT ND SHARE 10 years ago

    MAHAMA NDC KWASEAFUO HATE THE TRUTH,EVILS,IDIOTS,

  • Revjay393@yahoo.co.uk 10 years ago

    THERE ARE THOSE WHO DREAM OF A BETTER LIFESTYLE
    AND
    AND THOSE WHO LIVE THEIR DREAMS
    THOSE WHO WONDER WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING
    ...
    read full comment

  • Abeeku Mensah 10 years ago

    Prof Baah is missing the irony or dilemma of Ghana education; it’s not about testing but about structure period. Every education system in the world, from the USA to Russia is about testing and there is no disputing that fa ...
    read full comment

  • Yaa Nkosuo 10 years ago

    Widening the scope for educating the youth is also essential in maximizing their potential. In the UK the school system operates that system as you state obtains in the US but probably not as progressively or radically as tha ...
    read full comment

  • FATI 10 years ago

    THE WORLD HAS MOVED ON; GET IT?

  • P. Badu, New Zealand 10 years ago

    You can just even comprehend the simple message the professor was communicating.

    Have you ever heard, read or seen any country developed by illiterates?

  • Richard 10 years ago

    Well said Dr, Baah. I have always been saying this. Exams most time base on luck. I do not see why the Universities base too much emphasis on English language for a student who is going to take Engineering or technical major ...
    read full comment

  • KWAA 10 years ago

    We have an Education system which antique compared to the Education system in Korea or the emerging economies.
    We go to school only to write exam,so when one fails to pass the exams,then that is the end,
    Prof,you are right ...
    read full comment

  • P. Badu, New Zealand 10 years ago

    Hello Prof,

    You just stated a clear fact in Ghana.

    Ghana does not have its own philosophy of Education and in any sector of our economy. Govt just copy and paste other countries programs and projects and dump them in Gh ...
    read full comment

  • Mark Asante 10 years ago

    Yes,indeed Ghana needs a paradigm shift in its educational system with chew, pour and forget. It is not helping the Nation in anyway.

  • Akadu Mensema 10 years ago

    Where in the world?

  • GOLD COAST 10 years ago

    What is ACCESSMENT? Do you mean ASSESSMENTS or ACCESSIONS?

    PEACE

  • Akoo London 10 years ago

    Prof excuse me to say you are missing the point. Which country in the world are not placing premium on examinations? Do you know that United Kingdom is now vigorously proposing 100% examination oriented courses at the final ...
    read full comment

  • peace 10 years ago

    My brother, what your saying is some how true but there is no way you can get students at the pre-university level to be serious unless there is an exam.

  • Akamai 10 years ago

    I was top of class during predatory school, lost concentration in high school and did not get A's in 6th firm to make Ghana UNI...but lucky to get into a California state university, MBA FROM another college in California , a ...
    read full comment

  • Akadu Mensema 10 years ago

    It is as good as you got!

  • GHFUO, be serious & change ur MENtali 10 years ago

    U BENEFITED FROM AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. ANYWHERE ELSE AND YOU WILL PROLLY NOT MAKE THE GRADE.

  • Jojo 10 years ago

    EGYA OPAYIN PROFESSOR-WE CAN CHANGE TO ANY SYSTEM BUT THE QUESTRION IS,HAS THE KNOWLDGE OF EDUCATION WHICH MANY OF YOU HAVE ACHIEVED IN THE ENGINEERING AND NATURAL SCIENCE MADE 'DENT''TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENNT OF GHANA.

    ...
    read full comment

  • GhanaBA 10 years ago

    the prof has said it all, no further comment!

  • princewilly@ymail.com 10 years ago

    A lecturer teaching medicine was giving a class room observation. He took out a jar of yellow liquid. "This," he explained, "is urine. To be a doctor, you have to be observant of color, smell, sight, and taste."

    After sayi ...
    read full comment

  • Abbas, london 10 years ago

    indeed u are a professor

  • Spiky 10 years ago

    The problem is not exam; if it is exam at all it is only at the technical level. The fundamental problem is the content of education. Are we producing the manpower the economy needs? Are we producing the kind of citizens requ ...
    read full comment

  • francis 10 years ago

    there's something wrong with our education simple and period. no wonder people with masters and Phd degrees still think there's something called witch that eats human flesh.

  • K E D 10 years ago

    Francis, it is not the educated only but our non-educated people and all still do think witchcraft exist. They even think dead people are still ruling this earth. Go figure. When a drunk driver crashes and kill his passengers ...
    read full comment

  • Akamai 10 years ago

    It's the curriculum which does not make students think for themselves... Outside the box , all based on books which are sometimes outmoded or not relevant yo today's global challenges

  • lady waz 10 years ago

    is abt time

  • mr amin 10 years ago

    i agree with prof. our exam system is premitive. also as a peopleo we should look at the depreciation of cedi. how do we achive our devolopmental target when revenue collected looses its value.if your water tank leaks are u ...
    read full comment

  • Alex London 10 years ago

    Professor you have disappointed me. Why are you tell us this? You are a head of a department why can't you change it? Are you waiting to be ordered to do so?

  • Francis. 10 years ago

    I think Pro Barh statement is correct.We need to change the system where Student chew pour pass and forget syndrome.infact Germany system is one of the best.You have to prove after your course by doing in practically before ...
    read full comment

  • Papatimmy 10 years ago

    I have been teaching in Europe for 9 years now and I cannot agree with the Prof. 100%. From my experience as a teacher (i teach Econs, English and French)in Italy, I believe Ghana's Education system isn't that bad at all. Des ...
    read full comment

  • YAAYIMA _ Jasikan 10 years ago

    Thank u prof.
    I Just hope this visionless government will take it seriously as many of us have been victims just bcos of pass in one or two subjects.
    Thanks very much once again prof