Published at 8:14pm
29-09-2024
Bu Saibu Terry
Development Educationist, Salifu Ojei has taken on Professor Ababio Oteng Martin over his comments to the the effect that Legon Students can no longer solve basic algebra question due to the implementation of Free SHS Policy.
According to Salifu Ojei, the professor’s interpretation of students academic achievement has rather exposed his ignorance of the school assessment regime in Ghana and lack of concept test reliability.
He noted that GES, the implementation urgency of the free SHS is not a mandated urgency to assess the students. Thereby, expressing shock over views held by the professor
Is the professor the problem or free SHS policy?
I have read with much dismay, an opinion by professor Ababio Oteng Martin(urban environmental studies) to the effect that ‘legon students can no longer solve basic algebra questions due to the implementation of free SHS policy”
I have tried in all humility, to understand the logic of the good old professor but to no avail. So what are the issues?
First of all, the policy of free SHS is implemented by the Ghana Education Service to ensure that ALL children of school age have ACCESS to Quality free Shs education. The policy has achieved, with out doubt its objective of expanding access (both economic and physical access) to all children.
On the access score, he admitted that indeed the policy has achieved much.
The second objective of free SHS hinges on quality. The indicators for quality education are wide in scope. In education science, the quality aspect of education is general refers to education outcomes. These out comes may be judged in terms of discipline nature of students and School academic achievement.
The thrust of the argument advance by the professor is to narrow the conservation on quality of education to academic achievement of students. Ordinary, this should be one of the parameters for judging any education policy. However, his interpretation of students academic achievement has rather exposed him as either being ignorant of the school assessment regime in Ghana or lacks appreciation of the concept of Test Reliability.
Prof should know that the implementing agency of free SHS, Ghana Education Service is not the assessment agency. WAEC has the mandate to assess all learner’s at the pre-tertiary level of education in Ghana. So, if Prof had told us that he conducted a research to test the Reliability of WAEC results using free SHS Students as case study and his findings suggest that the results are not reliable. Perhaps, we could engage in that discussion to ensure that there is consistency in students achievement.
Unfortunately, the professor has abandoned the basic tenets of academia which is guided by science and data to make sweeping generalisation.
In the absence of these, his thoughts on free SHS should taken with a pinch of salt.
Salifu Ojei (Development educationists
