The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA) has backed the possible introduction of Chinese and Arabic into Ghana’s education system, while calling for the move to be carefully planned and supported by qualified teachers.
The council said both languages could broaden the opportunities available to Ghanaian students because of their cultural, diplomatic, economic and international importance.
It believes exposure to Chinese and Arabic could help prepare learners for an increasingly interconnected world. However, the NCPTA said the proposed expansion should not weaken the position of English, French or Ghanaian languages within the country’s education system.
Speaking at a press conference on 27 August, Mr Raphael Gapson said the languages must be added in a way that preserves the foundations of Ghana’s educational and cultural identity.
“Chinese and Arabic should complement rather than undermine the foundational importance of English, French and Ghanaian languages,” Mr Raphael Gapson said at a press conference on August 27.
The council recommended that the introduction of Chinese and Arabic should begin with suitable pilot programmes. It also stressed the need to ensure that qualified teachers are available before the languages are expanded more widely.
The NCPTA said a structured approach would allow education authorities to assess how the new subjects could be incorporated effectively. Its position is that the potential benefits of Chinese and Arabic should be considered alongside the existing priorities of Ghana’s education system.
The council said Ghana must find an appropriate balance between improving its global competitiveness and protecting its national identity. While it recognises the international relevance of Chinese and Arabic, it believes the development of Ghanaian languages and culture should remain an important part of education.
The association is therefore calling for greater investment in the teaching and promotion of Ghanaian languages across the country’s schools and wider education system.
According to the NCPTA, support for Ghanaian languages cannot be limited to policy declarations. It said the commitment must be matched by practical resources, including properly trained teachers, suitable learning materials and effective assessment systems.
The council’s position places the proposed teaching of Chinese and Arabic within a broader discussion about the direction of Ghanaian education. It supports the possibility of offering students access to additional international languages, but says that ambition should be pursued without undermining the linguistic and cultural foundations of the country.
The NCPTA welcomed Chinese and Arabic as potential additions to Ghana’s educational opportunities, citing the wider cultural, diplomatic, economic and international connections associated with both languages.
At the same time, it repeated that the success of any such policy would depend on careful implementation. Pilot schemes, qualified teaching staff and appropriate educational support would be required, while stronger provision for Ghanaian languages would also be necessary.
The council said this approach would help ensure that the pursuit of international opportunities goes hand in hand with the protection and promotion of Ghana’s national identity.
By Ericka Jumaa Korankye
