Samuel Cornelius Nyarko has raised concerns over widespread misconceptions about climate change among teachers and students in Ghana, warning that the situation could undermine efforts to tackle the environmental crisis.
Speaking at a three-day Climate Change and Health Education Professional Development Workshop in Accra, Dr Nyarko said research conducted over the past five years revealed that although many teachers and university students were aware of climate change, significant misunderstandings about the subject still persisted.
According to him, some teachers incorrectly linked climate change directly to ozone depletion and diseases such as cataracts, exposing gaps in climate science education within schools.
The workshop, attended by 61 senior high school teachers from across the country, aimed at improving teachers’ understanding of climate-related concepts and strengthening climate education in classrooms.
Dr Nyarko criticised the limited investment in climate education and teacher training, arguing that while government continued to invest in climate mitigation measures, little attention had been paid to preparing educators to teach the subject effectively.
He called for greater investment in environmental science, earth science, and geoscience education, stressing that climate-related content currently taught at the basic school level remained shallow and inadequate.
The climate researcher noted that Ghana already had qualified experts capable of supporting curriculum reforms and climate education initiatives.
He pointed to recurring floods, rising temperatures, and coastal erosion in areas such as Keta as evidence that climate change was already affecting communities across the country.
Abigail Mercy Opong Tetteh also underscored the need to equip teachers with practical climate knowledge to bridge the gap between public discussions on climate change and classroom teaching.
She explained that the workshop curriculum was developed within the Ghanaian educational context and supported by local experts from institutions including the Water Research Institute and the Ghana Education Service.
Dr Opong Tetteh expressed optimism that the training would improve climate awareness among students and strengthen environmental education at the community level.
