Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has clarified that the government has no plans to make Chinese, Arabic or any other foreign language compulsory under the proposed new basic school curriculum.
The Minister said English will remain the country’s main medium of instruction, while Ghanaian languages will continue to play a central role in early childhood education to preserve the country’s cultural values and improve learning outcomes.
Addressing public concerns over the proposed curriculum, Mr. Iddrisu stated that the government has not considered making Arabic or Chinese mandatory at any stage of Ghana’s education system.
“There is no intention by government to make Arabic and Chinese compulsory at any level of our education. That is not the thought and that is not the thinking of government.”
He explained that from kindergarten to Primary Three, instruction will continue to be delivered in Ghanaian languages to strengthen children’s understanding of their own culture and identity.
“English remains our main medium of instruction, but from kindergarten to Primary Three, we are encouraging and forcefully supporting the use of local Ghanaian language so that our children will not be lost out of their own values and culture.”
According to the Minister, English will become the principal medium of instruction from Primary Four onwards. However, pupils at the upper primary level will have the opportunity to study a foreign language of their choice without it being compulsory.
He disclosed that the revised curriculum, which has been submitted to the Ghana Education Service for review, proposes the introduction of several foreign language options to prepare Ghanaian learners for the global environment.
“From Primary Four to Primary Six upwards, we intend to make English language still the basic medium of instruction, but we will introduce three foreign languages, optional for any learner to choose a language of their choice.”
Hon. Iddrisu said the government will consider the recommendations of the Ghana Education Service before implementing the revised curriculum.
He added that the foreign languages to be offered could include French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Italian and German, stressing that their inclusion is intended to equip learners with global competencies rather than replace Ghanaian or English language instruction.
“This revised curriculum is now before the Ghana Education Service. I will accept their recommendations and I will implement their recommendations, but to expose them to those foreign languages, be it French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Italian or German, will remain optional, but will be for purposes of upper primary in order that we are producing learners for the world.”
