President John Dramani Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to improving the quality of education in the country.
Delivering his maiden State of the Nation Address in his second term as president, in Parliament on Thursday, February 27, 2025, he noted that the current educational system, inherited from previous administrations, is outdated and must be realigned to meet the demands of the 21st century and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“The system we have inherited is outdated in many ways and must be realigned to meet the needs of the 21st century and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“We must provide meaningful and relevant education to prepare our youth for today’s technology-driven job market. Despite various reforms, issues related to low earning incomes persist within Ghana’s educational system. I am committed to ensuring that quality education remains a top priority,” he noted.
Recognising the urgent need for national dialogues on education and in the spirit of inclusive governance, President Mahama stated, “I launched the National Education Consultative Forum on February 18th in Ho. I look forward to the recommendations, which we will incorporate into our sectoral policy reforms.”
He also announced that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training will be integrated into early childhood education at the basic level and also resource Islamic education.
“Over the next three years, this initiative will expand to cover at least 300 classrooms, 30 centers of excellence, and train 1,000 teachers and district teacher support teams, focusing on the teaching of mathematics and literacy.
“To further promote inclusion and equity, my government will enhance and resource the Islamic Education Unit to recruit more Islamic and Arabic tutors for English-Arabic schools,” he added.
He continued, “We will support Islamic colleges of education with infrastructure and logistics and enroll youth in Zongo and deprived urban communities in the National Apprentice Program to offer them free technical and vocational training.”
Background:
President Mahama’s address, which is in line with the Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, and which is expected to outline his ambitious “Resetting Ghana” agenda, aims at tackling economic challenges, creating jobs, and restoring stability.
In his address, the president is expected to touch on key areas of his government’s policy objectives.
He is also expected to provide updates on the state of Ghana’s economy, including the ongoing IMF bailout program, security, and the cost of living, among other issues.
Additionally, he will update Ghanaians on deliverables for the year ahead, as well as the achievements of his government so far and the challenges that lie ahead.
JKB/AE
Watch as President Mahama delivers 7th State of the Nation Address