The Executive Director of Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch), Kofi Asare, has described the controversy surrounding the Senior High School (SHS) Physical Education and Health teachers’ manual as a quality assurance issue, calling for stronger oversight in the development of curricula and related teaching materials.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, Mr. Asare said the situation highlights gaps in the mechanisms used to review and approve not only the national curriculum but also the teaching and learning materials deployed in classrooms.
“I think it’s a quality assurance issue, and it’s important that we strengthen the quality assurance mechanisms in the production of not just our curriculum, but also the related materials used in deploying the curriculum in the classroom,” he said.
His comments follow public concerns over a controversial definition of gender identity contained in the SHS Physical Education and Health teachers’ manual, which has sparked debate over its consistency with Ghana’s laws and cultural values.
Mr. Asare backed calls by Assin South MP, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, for a review of the curriculum and the associated manuals. He noted that although curriculum review timelines are typically longer, the current concerns justify an earlier intervention.
According to him, while the curriculum assessment framework usually recommends reviews after about five years, serious concerns arising within the implementation period warrant an earlier review.
“Even though it’s not five years, issues like this are concerning enough to justify a review within the two years. The best thing to do is to review the curriculum,” he added.
Mr. Asare further called for a comprehensive review of the teachers’ manual, stressing the need to ensure that all content aligns with Ghana’s laws, culture, and established quality assurance processes at the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA).
Meanwhile, NaCCA has directed all teachers in possession of hard copies of the SHS Physical Education and Health teachers’ manual to return them immediately, as authorities take steps to address the concerns raised.
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