 | Education System in Ghana |
Life sometimes goes at a leisurely pace in Africa, and school education can take up to 20 years to complete. For this reason is it fortunate that it is free unless more fortunate parents enroll their kids at private schools. Around age six or children enter primary school to complete their first 6 grades.
Junior high school occupies them for the next three years. Subjects forming their curriculum include a Ghanaian language, basic designing and technology, english, french, information technology, integrated science, maths, social studies and moral education. Unfortunately private junior high schools are better endowed and provide better educated scholars.
A successful pass admits students to senior high school where surprisingly enough most institutions are state owned. The compulsory 3 year program includes english, maths, science, social studies and physical education. In addition to that, they also elect to specialize in agriculture, business, general arts, or science.
Recent changes to vocational training programs are designed to ensure that from age 16 onwards students are given opportunities to train in various professions. New schools are being built and additional courses rolled out.
Post-secondary education in Ghana commonly takes 4 years to complete. The best students continue with nominally free education at a state university while others have to pay for education at a private one. A range of post-graduate study is available too.
The University of Ghana was established in 1948 by the colonial authority as the University College of the Gold Coast. There students study for traditional degrees as well as technology-based training and vocational courses.
