Ghana’s basic school curriculum is set for a major transformation, with computing, coding, citizenship education and ethics becoming central components of classroom instruction under reforms announced by the Ministry of Education.
The revised curriculum, developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), also strengthens the use of Ghanaian languages as the primary medium of instruction from kindergarten to Primary Three, introduces Chinese as an optional foreign language and standardises the teaching of Arabic in basic schools.
The reforms follow a comprehensive review of the existing curriculum, which identified significant learning gaps, particularly in Mathematics, Ghanaian Languages and other core subjects.
Presenting the revised curriculum, NaCCA Executive Secretary Professor Samuel Ofori Bekoe said the changes are designed to equip learners with the knowledge, values and practical skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving world.
According to him, the review has resulted in four major structural reforms, including the introduction of a standalone Citizenship Education subject.
Professor Bekoe explained that civic education had previously been spread across several subjects, reducing its overall effectiveness.
“We did the curriculum mapping to identify what we have to do. Four major structural changes have been brought into this new curriculum,” he said.
Rather than adding multiple new subjects, he said NaCCA opted for a single Citizenship Education course that would consolidate civic knowledge, values, attitudes and practical skills.
“We were looking at a subject that can hold all these competencies, being the knowledge, the attitudes, the values, and then the skills that learners need to become effective civic participants in the Ghanaian economy,” he stated.
The new subject will also incorporate elements of history to help develop responsible and active citizens.
“We are proposing that Citizenship Education should be the subject that will consolidate all these civic competencies and learnings that will make our learners functional,” he added.
Coding and computational thinking
The revised curriculum also integrates coding and computational thinking into both Computing and Mathematics to prepare learners for emerging technologies.
Professor Bekoe said coding concepts would be introduced through computational thinking in Computing and quantitative thinking in Mathematics.
“With computing and mathematics, we deliberately have introduced aspects of coding. In computing it’s called computational thinking, while in mathematics they call it quantitative thinking,” he explained.
He said these foundational skills would help learners understand coding, automation and artificial intelligence.
“These are the basic skills that learners need to grasp the concept of coding and then automation and AI going forward,” he added.
Chinese and Arabic language reforms
The curriculum further proposes the introduction of Chinese as an optional foreign language in selected schools, reflecting Ghana’s expanding trade relationship with China.
“Now Ghana’s major trading partner is China. Many people go to China to do all kinds of trade,” Professor Bekoe said.
He stressed that Chinese will not be compulsory but will be introduced only in schools with the required resources and qualified teachers.
According to him, the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast has partnered with NaCCA to develop the curriculum and has committed to supporting a pilot programme in 10 schools.
“The Confucius Centre says that they are ready to sponsor about 10 schools for now to start as a pilot. They have trained teachers who can handle the 10 schools at the beginning,” he noted.
Professor Bekoe also announced that Arabic instruction has now been standardised for Primary One to Primary Six after years of schools using different teaching materials.
Greater focus on classroom assessment
The revised curriculum also places stronger emphasis on continuous classroom assessment to improve learning outcomes.
“We deliberately have made formative assessment a core issue in the curriculum,” Professor Bekoe said.
Education Minister endorses reforms
Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu welcomed the revised curriculum and directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to complete its review within one week to pave the way for implementation.
“The GES is given one week from today to review and bring the curriculum up to full implementation readiness and strict quality standards,” he said.
The Minister explained that the timeline would enable the GES to take early ownership of the reforms and ensure their smooth rollout in schools nationwide.
Mr Iddrisu also endorsed NaCCA’s recommendation that Ghanaian languages become the primary medium of instruction from kindergarten to Primary Three.
“Accordingly, I accept your recommendation that Ghanaian language be the medium of instruction from kindergarten to Basic Three,” he announced.
He explained that children at the lower primary level would learn to read in their mother tongue, while English would continue to be taught as a subject through play-based oral activities.
“Learners at this level will be taught to read in a Ghanaian language. English language will be taught as a subject with an explicit emphasis on play-based oral activity,” he said.
According to the Minister, teaching children in their native language during their formative years enhances cognitive development and strengthens literacy skills.
“Grounding early learning in a child’s native language significantly improves cognitive development and reading comprehension, which actually accelerates second language learning,” he added.
