I have heard, read and encountered so many conflicting views about where to access seconadary school education for my son, who's starting sec school next year. My initial gut instinct was Ghana; absolutely.
As he's only experienced school in the UK so far, I thought that the secondary years in Ghana would give him the priceless insight, understanding and knowledge of our history and culture which is non-existent in this country. He could really feel like he belongs: make friends and establish solid roots for the future as a Ghanaian man. He is enthusiastic about the idea and already has great pride and love for our motherland.
Here's the problem: The fact is that education in Ghana is completely plagued with problems, as we know. When the teachers are actually there, we still suffer severely from resources and opportunities. So much so, that even our most capable students still find that after years of struggling to get educated and skilled-up, they are far behind their western counterparts who go much further in getting jobs etc- even those with a mediocre to average intellect.
The truth is there is so much opportunity here in the UK to gain professional skills in whatever your interest is; science arts, IT, hospitality, animal, the environment law, sport you name it! In Ghana, that kind of open embrace is not available. Musicians, athletes, writers, engineers, designers...all struggle to really make it. Everyone has to be a "pen-pusher". Even dancers need degrees! And let's face it, what real career prospects are there, especially for creative individuals, if you don't find your way to Europe or the US? For some reason, we don't value craftsmanship, enterpreneurs and such like, even though the ingenuity of our people ( even children) is evident everywhere in the country.
Here is yet another truth. The advantage that UK and US educated Ghanaians have over their peers in Ghana is clear( sometimes unwarranted). They're more articulate for a start and their skills and pro-active work ethic go a long way in Ghana. So do I forfeit the experience of sec school for my son in Ghana? (Apart from the holidays) Does anyone have up-to-date insight into the JSS/SSS/post sec sytem etc? I've been advised to keep him here and not rob him of the chances at his disposal. I have no doubt he will succeed wherever he is.
I am aware that the national curriculum and most state provision in the UK are not designed to produce successful black boys: I've already opted out of that system for secondary choices.
So my head says here; my heart says Ghana.
Surely, I'm not alone. What do you think? I would appreciate your views.
I am happy you said your head is here but your heart is in Ghana. At the end of the day it is better to follow your heart and not your head. I am a teacher here in London, I am a parent and more importantly I had my education to the university level in Ghana. Whilst I am pursuing further education. I believe all these has put me in the right position to able to contribute to this issue. Yes the resources are here and the enviroment is conducive for study. But what are resources when a child will not study?Some say it all depends on how you bring your child up. Nice talk, but what if inspite of your effort the Child is tilted towards the direction of peers? There is too much talk about rights in schools here without equal emphasis on responsibilities, respect and good morals. The technological and physical resources are here, but that alone without instiling respect and good morals is next to nothing. Let the Child acquire the basic education to secondary in one of the good schools in Ghana and later bring him or her here and you will never regret it.
Hello, there this is quite an interesting issue. People have good experiences and others bad, but from a personal point of view if you have the correct support system, network and set up for the child to enjoy a reasonably stable home then, that is a very good choice to make. I personally wouldn't want my child to live away from me and as a result it will be a difficult choice for me. But the idea is very good in order to have a feel of how we live, interact, deal with day to day life. Take a chance and you can always pull him out if you feel it is not going the right way. Thank you.
