The role education plays in the development of a nation cannot be underestimated. This may partly explain why successive governments of Ghana have never relented in their efforts to improve education over the years through the various interventions such as the educational reforms, GETfund, Capitation grant, School feeding programme, FCUBE and others.
Although all these interventions are commendable, it is expedient for the government to also focus on improving other forms of education since building a capable state does not only depend on those who are beneficiaries of formal education.
It is in the light of this that we must discard the notion by some group of people who argue that those who have not received formal education must not be allowed to vote or participate in some national programmes. The question we must ask ourselves is: “Are they not Ghanaians?”
Denying such people of these privileges is against their fundamental human rights and freedom. Instead, we must think of possible means to get these people educated which include but not limited to formal education.
Other means such as public education, using the Faith-Based Organizations must be encouraged. The reason is that Faith-Based Organizations are by far, the largest bodies which deal with communities of which some have not been reached by government services.
Moreover, religious leaders are regarded as authorities and their views are highly esteemed. Besides, their meeting places serve as rally centres where people gather regularly. Therefore, involving Faith-Based Organizations in educating the masses is one sure means of reaching out to almost the entire Ghanaian population of which over 40% have no formal education. (49.9% according to National population and housing census, 2001).
Also, we can use the market centres as a medium of educating the masses. Education at the market centres should be done to coincide with major market days in the various communities because on such days, people from different parts of the country either aggregate there to sell or patronize the goods brought there for sale.
If the various stakeholders such as the National Commission of Civic
Education (NCCE), National Africa Peer Review Mechanism (NAPRM), the Electoral Commission (EC), Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), and ministries such as the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation could liaise with Faith-Based Organizations and use market centres as their platform, most of the masses who find themselves at these two places will be abreast of national issues in no time.
In using these media, however, we must encourage the use of our local languages as a tool of instruction. It is only through our local languages that targeted groups will be well informed and educated on national issues that have direct influence on their daily life. Also, public education should be done in an interactive manner so that the public being educated can ask questions pertaining to issues being discussed. Moreover, the use of video vans must be given the necessary bolster since research has proved that most people learn effectively through the audio-visual means.
These not withstanding, we must note that these approaches and means mentioned will yield maximum returns if and only if all stakeholders together with those at the helm of affairs such as Religious Leaders, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, District Chief Executives (DCEs), Heads of Institutions, Chiefs, Queen Mothers, Medical Doctors, Professors, Opinion Leaders and other dignitaries join in the campaign by condescending to the level of these targeted groups so that the information and messages transmitted to them would be well received and understood.
This will ensure that citizens are not only informed, but also information gets to them on time so that they can act on them appropriately to derive the maximum benefits.
It is by these ways amongst others that we can get those who have not received formal education to be educated and well-informed on key national issues such as HIV/AIDS, redenomination of the cedi, national identification, elections, national health insurance scheme (NHIS) and others. Unless this is done, we may lag behind our expected national development.
Therefore, our development partners, donor agencies and all well wishers of Ghana and Africa must also channel some of their resources toward the improvement of informal education so as to ensure a well and capable state and a continent.
University of Cape Coast, Ghana
Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.