Ghana must move beyond traditional approaches to literacy and build a culture of continuous learning to equip citizens for the demands of a rapidly changing economy, Technical Advisor to the Minister of Education, Professor George K. T. Oduro, has said.
He said the growing influence of technology, globalisation and the knowledge economy meant that education could no longer end in the classroom, but must continue throughout a person’s life.
Prof Oduro made the call at a stakeholders’ engagement held to mark International Literacy Day, celebrated on September 8, under the theme: “Emerging Issues, Challenges and Opportunities in Literacy and Lifelong Learning in Ghana.”
He said Ghana’s literacy agenda should be anchored on four key areas — language, mathematics, science and cultural literacy — to give citizens the broad range of competencies required to participate effectively in society.
According to him, language literacy goes beyond the ability to read and write, as it enables citizens to communicate effectively, understand information and participate confidently in social and economic activities.
Mathematics literacy, he said, was equally important for quantitative reasoning, problem-solving, interpreting data and managing personal and household resources, particularly when making everyday financial decisions.
Prof Oduro added that science literacy was necessary for citizens to understand the natural and technological environment and apply evidence-based reasoning when dealing with health, environmental and technological challenges.
He also highlighted cultural literacy as a critical component of national development, saying it enables citizens to understand and preserve Ghana’s diverse histories, languages, traditions, values and identities while promoting peaceful coexistence.
Prof Oduro stressed that the four areas must be developed within a lifelong learning framework because skills and knowledge are becoming obsolete more quickly as technology and economic conditions evolve.
“Learning is a lifelong journey,” he said, stressing that just as people cannot stop ageing, “we cannot and must not stop learning.”
He said Ghana had made significant progress in literacy, although national and international estimates varied, and urged stakeholders to build on the gains rather than become complacent.
According to him, a learning society must create opportunities for people of all ages and circumstances to continuously acquire new knowledge, skills and competencies.
He therefore called for learning opportunities to be expanded beyond formal schools to homes, communities, workplaces and digital platforms.
Prof Oduro, however, acknowledged that inadequate and unpredictable funding, limited learning materials and shortages of well-trained personnel continued to constrain literacy and lifelong learning initiatives.
He consequently called for stronger partnerships among government, development partners, civil society organisations, communities and other stakeholders to mobilise the resources and expertise required to address the gaps.
“A literate society is an empowered, healthy and productive society,” Prof Oduro said, underscoring the need to make literacy and lifelong learning central to Ghana’s long-term development efforts.
