Thursday, 28 March

Withdraw AKI-OLA History textbooks for SHS – History Teachers to NaCCA

Education
AKI-OLA

Members of the History Teachers Association of Ghana (HISTAG) have called on the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) to immediately withdraw AKI-OLA History textbooks for senior high schools.

According to the teachers, after carefully examining the content and structure of the textbook, they have realised that the book suffers from certain limitations, including its failure to identify relevant points and offering of complex explanations of the points when identified.

They also said the books have irrelevant background information on historical issues that students do not need at the senior high school level.

“This apart, the AKI-OLA History textbook is not strictly in conformity to the history syllabi of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the West African Examination Council (WAEC),” the teachers said in a statement.  

The teachers noted that the identified shortcomings of the AKI-OLA History textbook can contribute to students’ loss of interest in the subject.

“We would, therefore, be happy, if NaCCA could call for the withdrawal of the AKI-OLA History textbook immediately. We believe that there are good history textbooks which have been published by History teachers and individuals that can be adopted by the Ghana Education Service to be used by Senior High School students rather than the AKI-OLA History textbook,” the statement stated.

The teachers expressed the belief that withdrawing the AKI-OLA History textbook will go a long way to promote the effective study of History as a subject in schools, instead of arbitrarily adopting a textbook that can contribute to students’ loss of interest in the subject.

Read the full statement below:

RE: CONCERNS OF HISTORY TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (HISTAG) REGARDING THE USE OF AKI-OLA HISTORY TEXTBOOK FOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

We write to register our displeasure at the distribution of AKI-OLA History textbook written by Enoch Amoah to Senior High Schools in Ghana for the use of students and teachers by the Ghana Education Service (GES).

After carefully examining the content and structure of the textbook, we have realised that the book suffers from certain limitations, including its failure to identify relevant points and offering of complex explanations of the points when identified, as well as irrelevant background information on historical issues that students do not need at the Senior High School level.

This apart, the AKI-OLA History textbook is not strictly in conformity to the history syllabi of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the West African Examination Council (WAEC). Indeed, over the years, we have worked hard to raise students’ interest in History at the Senior High School level.

We are, however, afraid that the identified shortcomings of the AKI-OLA History textbook can contribute to students’ loss of interest in the subject. We are very much aware that under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act 2020 (Act 1023), it is only National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) that has the mandate to review, approve or reject books for use in schools in Ghana.

We would, therefore, be happy if NaCCA could call for the withdrawal of the AKI-OLA History textbook immediately. We believe that there are good history textbooks which have been published by History teachers and individuals that can be adopted by the Ghana Education Service to be used by Senior High School students rather than the AKI-OLA History textbook.

In this regard, the History Teachers Association of Ghana (HISTAG) urgently calls upon both the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) to do the needful by having the most appropriate history textbooks supplied to Senior High Schools in Ghana, especially at this material moment when history has been introduced as a stand-alone subject at the basic level since September 2019.

The leadership of the History Teachers Association of Ghana (HISTAG) is ready to help the Ghana Education Service in the selection of detailed, easy to read and comprehensive History textbooks for Senior High School students if we are called upon.

We are of the strongest belief that such a move would go a long way in our collective drive and effort to promote the effective study of History as a subject in our schools, instead of arbitrarily adopting a textbook that can contribute to students’ loss of interest in the subject. We humbly look forward to your prompt response to our request.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

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FAISAL INUSAH (GENERAL SECRETARY)

 

 

Source: classfmonline.com/Emmanuel Mensah