Presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention, Dr. Edward Mahama says even kids at the nursery level would have access to counselors to help shape their skills for the future under his government.

He noted rather regrettably that even students at the university appear confused because they have not been properly propped to know what they are capable of doing with what they acquired in school.

It is based on this observation that he thinks the current educational system has not prepared people well to fit into the needs of businesses and industries.

He was giving insight into his party’s policy on education at a GBC/NCCE presidential debate on Wednesday.

Dr. Mahama is confident making counselors available at every level of the educational system would be the right step to addressing the challenges.

The counselors, he explained, would guide students to unearth their skills and potential. His government, he said, would therefore introduce what he calls “critical thinking” as a subject in schools.

This will help students to know the kind of courses they are pursuing and where they would lead them to. He is also looking at providing scholarships to brilliant but needy students in society.

Mr. Kobina Greenstreet who participated in the debate pointed out that Ghana would not succeed unless it takes a critical look at its education and what needs to be developed.

He described problems associated with the educational system as a “complex problem that requires a non partisan approach”.

Independent presidential candidate, Jacob Osei Yeboah made an urgent call for Ghana to develop its own educational system to cut the reliance on a system handed down by another nation – colonial masters.

A homegrown education system under his leadership would merge education with industry. He promised to set up a bureau of curriculum research to ensure that programmes being run by schools fit into the societal needs.

The educational system would also be managed by an education commission, he said. Other presidential candidates that participated in the debate included President John Mahama and Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom. Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and Nana Akufo-Addo could not make it to the debate.