Ghanaian leaders disagree over foreign language curriculum proposal

A disagreement has emerged between Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama and Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu regarding the introduction of foreign languages into the national school curriculum.

Minister Iddrisu stated that various foreign languages, including French, Spanish, German, and Chinese, would be offered as compulsory options for students at the Senior High School level to accompany their areas of study. However, President Mahama has categorically denied that the cabinet has approved any such policy. The President questioned the feasibility of the plan, noting the existing difficulty in finding French teachers and suggesting that implementing Chinese instruction would require importing teachers from China.

In response to the debate, Samuel Zigah, a senior lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, expressed opposition to the proposal. Zigah argued that students already struggle with foundational languages like English and French, and warned that adding Chinese and Arabic would create unnecessary confusion. He urged policymakers to prioritize strengthening local indigenous languages to build a stronger cognitive foundation for learners instead.