At a time when some believe urban lifestyle has contributed to a decline in teaching traditional cultures and values, the Minister of Education, Professor Naana Opoku-Agyemang has advocated the teaching of cultural values to improve the quality of thinking of students.
According to her, folktales of Ghanaian origin are still relevant in the quest to influence the next generation with positive values and open their minds.
Speaking at the launch of her book titled “Who Told The Most Incredible Story”, Professor Opoku-Agyemang maintained that unacceptable behaviours in society could be corrected with an improved education sector that provides the requisite human resource.
“Education is about the quality of thinking…the disciplines come later. Our tales will remain relevant in so far us the values and respect for others and the environment; of sharing; of placing other interests above our own consideration for diverging views; of tolerance of empowering the underprivileged so they don’t forever remain so; of moderation of keeping at the fore core of our minds the fragility of our own being,
“As far as all these remain, regardless the passage of time, so will our tales be,” she said.
Speaking at the same event, the Chairperson of the National Inspectorate Board and Afram Publications, Professor Esi Sutherland-Addy bemoaned the poor quality of books that are used in schools.
She has therefore urged educational facilitators to be cautious with the kind of books they purchase to teach their students,
“I would like to urge that those of us who buy books for our schools will insist on the quality, sometimes when you look at the choices that some people have made on books that they inflict on our children, one feels a sense of sorrow,” she said.
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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citifmonline.com/Ghana