An Associate Professor at the University of Ghana, Professor Alex Dodoo, has cautioned against the politicisation of education in the country arguing that the practice is inimical to national development.
He said educational policies must not be influenced by politics but realities of the nation and the fast changing technological world.
Prof. Dodoo, who is also the Director of the African Collaborating Centre for Pharmacovigilance and Surveillance, made the call in a speech read on his behalf at the 70th anniversary celebration of St. John’s Grammar Senior High School in Accra on Saturday.
The event, which brought together dignitaries, alumni, parents, staff and students, was marked by reflection on the school’s journey since its founding in 1954 and the need to consolidate gains for the next generation.
Prof. Dodoo called for a united, non-partisan approach to make the country a global powerhouse of pre-tertiary education, saying “If our nation is to move from poverty to prosperity, we need a non-partisan approach to education we need for the Ghana we want.”
“In these times, quality education must be redefined as the ability to “learn how to learn” in a knowledge-driven era where gadgets, tools and systems are constantly changing,” he noted.
Prof. Dodoo encouraged school and its alumni to honour its living heroes both locally and internationally.
He entreated institutions across the country to adopt global standards such as International Standard Organisation certifications to improve efficiency, quality and accountability in education.
The Headmaster of St. John’s Grammar, Mr Sebastian Akali-Nya Adama, expressed gratitude to staff, alumni and parents for their support over the years, noting that the school had grown into a major academic institution with over 5,000 students and 265 staff.
He revealed steady improvement in the school’s academic performance, with the overall pass rate at the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) rising from 90 per cent in 2022 to 93 per cent in 2024.
Mr Adama said the school had also excelled in sports, arts and culture, emerging champions in athletics, soccer, handball, table tennis and national theatre competitions.
Despite these achievements, the Headmaster lamented challenges including inadequate teacher accommodation, shortage of dormitory beds, lack of a dedicated assembly hall, and under-resourced science and ICT laboratories.
He appealed to government, alumni and stakeholders for broader support to address these pressing needs.
“Whilst we celebrate these gains, we must also acknowledge pressing challenges, they remind us that the work of nation-building through education is never complete,” he stated.
BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA
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