The importance of education in todays world cannot be overemphasised. Gone were the days when people didn’t really care but about going to school in order to gain knowledge. Some of these people regret the fact that they didn’t take the opportunity to go to school when they had the chance to. But today, the story is different.
Every parent out there wants his kids to go to school to obtain formal education. Even the kids themselves also want to be educated because even at a young age they are able to understand the importance of education and even dream about what they want to become in the future.
Unlike many others, I started school at a very tender age. My parents took me to school even before I hit the schooling age because they were also caught up with other stuff. So, while they were away busy with work, I was in school learning. At this point, it’s safe to say I’ve been in the Ghanaian educational system for quite a long time and I know the ins and outs of it.
The Ghanaian educational system is all about theory based teaching. Almost everything we did in school didn’t go beyond the classroom. We learnt everything right from our books or from the mouths of our teachers. There are some things we have learnt but haven’t even had the opportunity to see or have hands on experiences with till date. The only time we had the change to move outside the classroom for practical sessions was during ICT class, physical education class or pre vocational skills class.
I bet most of us have had to experience that joy on everyone’s faces when the ICT teacher asks them to go to the computer lab for their lesson. Why because we didn’t get to see Mavis beacon all the time. We only go to see her at least once a month or not at all. Even at the higher stages, it’s basically the same thing. During my university studies, my school didn’t really teach me much of the practical stuff.
I had to go out there to other facilities during my vacation to learn so as to gain hands on experience. I remember applying for a program with a mate of mine from the university. This person was a fist class student and so he thought he’d get the opportunity and I wouldn’t. At the end of the day, I got it and he didn’t. Why because I didn’t have only book results to show, I had hands on experience.
The world today isn’t looking for first class students or people who have been able to cram the whole syllabus. Everyone is looking out for someone who can do the job and do it best. And probably even bring some more additions or tweaks to it. The world today runs on innovation. You need to be able to think outside the box, do the undoable and know your way around stuff. That’s the only way you survive out here.
With this development, I believe the educational system here in Ghana should me more practical based than theoretical because practice makes man perfect!
all images belong to me.
