9 - Secondary Education - A 'Tool' for National Development in Ghana. A Critical Appraisal of the Post-Colonial Context
Corresponding Author(s) : Hubert Ο. Quist
Africa Development,
Vol. 28 No. 3-4 (2003): Africa Development
Abstract
The paper appraises the role of secondary education as a 'tool' for national development in post-colonial Ghana. In so doing, it analyses the problems of secondary education provision focusing on funding and reform. I have argued that - notwithstanding the World Bank's present support for universal primary education throughout Africa, a project commenced in Ghana as early as 1951, which represents a major shift from the Bank's previous endorsement ( 1960s) of university education as the panacea to Africa's development challenges - secondary education remains vital to Ghana's development aspirations. As the most accessible form of higher education in Ghana today, increased attention to, and expansion of secondary education has a greater potential than primary edu cation of sustaining literacy levels attained, raising political awareness and thus advancing democracy, as well as supplying sufficient middle-level manpower crucial to national development.
Hubert Ο. Quist, Department of Educational Foundations, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
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- A.gbodeka, Francis, 1977, Achimota in the National Set ting: a Unique Educational Experiment in West Africa, Accra: Afram Publications.
- A.hiable-Addo, C.K., 1980, 'Education Refonn and Failure in Ghana, 1920-1951 ',West African Journal of Education, Vol. XXI, No.3. pp. I 07-133.
- A.min, Samir, 1975, 'What Education for What Development?', Prospects, Vol.V, No.l, pp. 48-52.
- A.ntwi, Moses K., 1990, Education, Society and Deve/opment in Ghana, Accra: Unimax Publishers Limited.
- A.nyemedu, Kwasi, 1993, 'The Economie Policies of the PNDC', pp.13-47 in E. Gyimah ed., Ghana under PNDC Rule, Dakarl, CODESRIA.
- A.wudetsey, S.A., I 978, 'The Problem of Africanization of Education', Ghana Journal of Education, No.4, pp.14-19.
- Barrington, John M., 1983, 'Transfer of Educational Ideas: Notions of Adapta tion', Compare, Vol. I 3, No. l, pp. 61--68.
- Bartels, F. L., 1965, The Roots ofGhana Methodism, Cambridge: Cambridge Uni versity Press.
- Bennan, E.G., 1971, 'American influence on African Education: the Role of the Phelps-Stokes Fund in African Education Commissions', Comparative Edu cation Review, Vol. 15, No.2, pp. 132-145.
- Bennan, E.G., 1972, 'Tuskegee-in Africa', The Journal of Negro Histo1y, Vol. il, No.2, pp.99-112.3ening, S.S., 1990, A History of Education in Northern Ghana, 1907-1976, Accra,Ghana Universities Press.
- Bishop, Alan J., 1990, 'Western Mathematics: the Secret Weapon of Cultural Imperialism', Race and Class, Vol. 32, No.2, pp. 51---66.
- Boahen, Albert A., 1996', Mfàntsipim and the Making of Ghana: a Centenary History, 1876-1976.
- Accra: Sankora Educational Publications.
- Bock, John, 1982, 'Education and Development: a Conflict ofMeaning', pp. 78-101 in Philip G. Altbach et. al eds., Comparative Education, New York, Macmillan Publishers.
- Bray, Mark, 1986, 'Education and Nation-building', pp. 23-35, in Mark Bray et. al, Educational Society in Afi·ica, London: E. Arnold.
- Browne, Angella W. and Barrett, Hazel R., 1991, 'F emale Education in Sub Saharan Africa: the Key to Development', Comparative Education, Vol. 27, No.3. pp. 275-285.
- Bude, Udo., 1983, 'The Adaptation Concept in British Colonial Education', Com parative Education, Vol. 19, No.3, pp.341-55.
- Dei Sera, George J., 1993, 'Learning in the Time of Structural Adjustment poli cies: the Ghanaian Experience', Canadian and International Education, Vol. 22, No.!, pp. 43-65.
- Debeauvais, Michel, 1981, 'Education and National Development', Oxford Re view of Education, Vol. 7, No. l, pp.67-71.
- Easton, Peter and Klees, Steven, 1990, 'Education and the Economy: Consider ing Alternative Perspectives', Prospects. Vol. XX, No.4, pp. 413-28.
- Foster, Philip, 1965, Education and Social Change in Ghana, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
- Ghana, Republic of, 1969, Pre-university Education in Ghana: Brochure, Accra, Ministry of Education Publishing.
- Ghana, Republic of, 1974, The New Structure and Content of Education.for Ghana,Accra, Ministry of Education.
- Ghana, Republic of 1981, Economie Survey, 1977-1980, Accra, Central Bureau of Statistics.
- Ghana, Republic of, 1965, Sei·en- Year Development Plan. Annuai Plan for the Second Plan Year 1965 Financia/ Year, Accra, Office of the Planning Com m1ss10n.
- Ghana, Republic of, 1963, National Assemb(v. Parliamenta,y Debates: O[(icialReport, Accra, Government Printer, 24 September.
- Ghana, Republic of. 1964. Parliamenta,y Dchates. Session 1963-64,3 7, 22nd September, 1964- 2nd October.
- Ghana, Republic of, 1994, Quarter/y Digest of Statistics, XII, 1, March, Accra, Statistical Service.
- Ghana Planning Commission, 1965, Seven-year Dei-clopment Plan: a briefout line, Accra, Government Printing Department.
- Gold Coast, 1955, Education Report/or the Year /955, Accra. The Government Primer.
- Gosh, Suresh Chandra, 1993, 'English in Taste, in Opinion, in Words and Intellect', pp. 175-195, in J. Mangan ed., The Imperia/ Curriculum: Racial Images and Education in the British Colonial Experience, New York, Routledge.
- Habte, Aklilu, and Heyneman, Stephen, 1983, 'Education for National Develop ment; World Bank Activities', Prospects, Vol. Xll, No.4, pp. 471-79.
- Harbinson, Frederick H., and Myers, Charles H., 1964, Education, Manpower and Economie Growth: Strategies of Human Resource Development, New York: Mcgraw, Hill.
- Heyneman, S., 1987, 'Curricular Economies in Secondary Education: an Emerg ing Crisis in Developing Countries', Prospects, Vol. XVll, No.l, pp. 63-74. Kamens, David H., and Benavot,Aaron, 1991, 'Elite Knowledge for the Masses: the Origins and Spread of Mathematics and Science Education in National_
- Curricula', American Journal of Education, Vol. 99, No.2, pp. 137-80.
- Kay, S., and Nystrom, B., 1971, 'Education and Colonialism in Africa: an Annotated Bibliography', Comparative Education Review, June, pp. 240-259. Kimble, David, 1963, A Political History of Ghana: the Rise of Gold Coast
- Nationalism, 1850-1928, London: Oxford University Press.
- Lewis, L.J., 1954, Educationa/ Policy and Practice in British Tropical Areas.
- London, Thomas Nelson and Sons Limited.
- Mcwilliam, H.O., and Kwamena-Poh, M.A., 1975, The Development of Education in Ghana, London: Longmans.
- Morsy, Zaghloul, 1987, 'Landmarks: the Secondary Education Debate', Prospects, Vol. XVII, No.!, pp. 3-8.
- Odamtten, S.K., 1978, The Missionary Factor in Ghana s Deve/opment up to the1880s, Accra, Waterville Publishing House.
- Orivel, Francois, and Sergent, Fabrice, 1988, 'Foreign Aïd to Education in Sub Saharan Africa: How Useful lt?', Prospects, Vol. XVlll, No.4, pp. 459-69.
- Psacharopoulos, G., 1981, 'Retums to Education: an Updated International Com parison', Comparative Education, Vol. 17, pp. 321-41.
- Quist, Hubert O., 1990, The Development of Education in the Volta Region of Ghana 1918-1966, Unpublished M. Ed. Thesis, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
- Quist, Hubert O., 1994, 'The Missionary Element in the Development ofEducation in the Volta Region of Ghana, l 920-1950',Journal ofthe Institute of Educa tion, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, Vol. 3, No. l ,pp.119-133.Quist, Hubert O., 1999a, Seconda,y Education and Nation-Building: A Study of Ghana, 1951-1991, Ph.D. Dissertation, Columbia University.
- Quist, Hubert O., 1999b, 'Secondary Education in Ghana at the Dawn of The Twenty-First Century: Profile, Problems, Prospects', Prospects, Vol. XXIX, No.4, pp. 425-42.
- Sachs, Wolfgang., ed., I 992, The Development Dictionary: a Guide to Knowl edge as Power, London, Atlantic Highlands, N.J., Zed Books.
- Scadding, Helen. 1989. 'Junior Secondary Schools - an Educational Initiative in ihana', Compare, Vol. 19, No.!, pp. 43-48.;;canton, David, 1964, Traditions of African Education, New York: Teachers College, Columbia University.
- Smith, Noe!, 1966, The Presbyterian Church of Ghana, 1935-1960: a Younger Church in Changing Society, Accra: Ghana Universities Press.
- Spaulding, Seth., 1988, 'Prescriptions for Educational Reform: Dilemmas of the Real World', Comparative Education, Vol. 24, No.!, p.5.
- Steiner-Khamsi, Gita, and Quist, Hubert O., 2000, The Politics ofEducational Borrowing: Reopening of The Case of Achimota in British Ghana', Comparative Education Review, Vol. 44, No.3, pp.272-99.
- fhiam, lba Der., 1990, 'The Jomtien Plan of Action in the Sub-Saharan Context',Prospects, Vol. XX, No.4, pp. 503-11.
- fhiong'o Wa, Ngugi, 1986, Decolonizing the Mind: the Po/itics of language in African literature, London, J. Currey.
- JNESCO, 1993, World Education Report, Paris, UNESCO Publishing. Whitehead, Clive, 1995, 'The Medium of Instruction in British Colonial Education: A Case of Cultural lmperialism or Enlightened Patemalism', History of Education, Vol., 24,
- No.!, pp. 1-15.11/illiams, T .D., 1964, 'Sir Gordon Guggisberg and Educational Reform in the Gold Coast,
- -1927', Comparative Education Review, Vol. 8, No.3, December, pp. 290-306.
- /orld Bank, 1995, Priorities and Strategies for Deve/opment in practical Edu ation. A World Bank Review, Washington, DC.,The World Bank.
References
A.gbodeka, Francis, 1977, Achimota in the National Set ting: a Unique Educational Experiment in West Africa, Accra: Afram Publications.
A.hiable-Addo, C.K., 1980, 'Education Refonn and Failure in Ghana, 1920-1951 ',West African Journal of Education, Vol. XXI, No.3. pp. I 07-133.
A.min, Samir, 1975, 'What Education for What Development?', Prospects, Vol.V, No.l, pp. 48-52.
A.ntwi, Moses K., 1990, Education, Society and Deve/opment in Ghana, Accra: Unimax Publishers Limited.
A.nyemedu, Kwasi, 1993, 'The Economie Policies of the PNDC', pp.13-47 in E. Gyimah ed., Ghana under PNDC Rule, Dakarl, CODESRIA.
A.wudetsey, S.A., I 978, 'The Problem of Africanization of Education', Ghana Journal of Education, No.4, pp.14-19.
Barrington, John M., 1983, 'Transfer of Educational Ideas: Notions of Adapta tion', Compare, Vol. I 3, No. l, pp. 61--68.
Bartels, F. L., 1965, The Roots ofGhana Methodism, Cambridge: Cambridge Uni versity Press.
Bennan, E.G., 1971, 'American influence on African Education: the Role of the Phelps-Stokes Fund in African Education Commissions', Comparative Edu cation Review, Vol. 15, No.2, pp. 132-145.
Bennan, E.G., 1972, 'Tuskegee-in Africa', The Journal of Negro Histo1y, Vol. il, No.2, pp.99-112.3ening, S.S., 1990, A History of Education in Northern Ghana, 1907-1976, Accra,Ghana Universities Press.
Bishop, Alan J., 1990, 'Western Mathematics: the Secret Weapon of Cultural Imperialism', Race and Class, Vol. 32, No.2, pp. 51---66.
Boahen, Albert A., 1996', Mfàntsipim and the Making of Ghana: a Centenary History, 1876-1976.
Accra: Sankora Educational Publications.
Bock, John, 1982, 'Education and Development: a Conflict ofMeaning', pp. 78-101 in Philip G. Altbach et. al eds., Comparative Education, New York, Macmillan Publishers.
Bray, Mark, 1986, 'Education and Nation-building', pp. 23-35, in Mark Bray et. al, Educational Society in Afi·ica, London: E. Arnold.
Browne, Angella W. and Barrett, Hazel R., 1991, 'F emale Education in Sub Saharan Africa: the Key to Development', Comparative Education, Vol. 27, No.3. pp. 275-285.
Bude, Udo., 1983, 'The Adaptation Concept in British Colonial Education', Com parative Education, Vol. 19, No.3, pp.341-55.
Dei Sera, George J., 1993, 'Learning in the Time of Structural Adjustment poli cies: the Ghanaian Experience', Canadian and International Education, Vol. 22, No.!, pp. 43-65.
Debeauvais, Michel, 1981, 'Education and National Development', Oxford Re view of Education, Vol. 7, No. l, pp.67-71.
Easton, Peter and Klees, Steven, 1990, 'Education and the Economy: Consider ing Alternative Perspectives', Prospects. Vol. XX, No.4, pp. 413-28.
Foster, Philip, 1965, Education and Social Change in Ghana, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Ghana, Republic of, 1969, Pre-university Education in Ghana: Brochure, Accra, Ministry of Education Publishing.
Ghana, Republic of, 1974, The New Structure and Content of Education.for Ghana,Accra, Ministry of Education.
Ghana, Republic of 1981, Economie Survey, 1977-1980, Accra, Central Bureau of Statistics.
Ghana, Republic of, 1965, Sei·en- Year Development Plan. Annuai Plan for the Second Plan Year 1965 Financia/ Year, Accra, Office of the Planning Com m1ss10n.
Ghana, Republic of, 1963, National Assemb(v. Parliamenta,y Debates: O[(icialReport, Accra, Government Printer, 24 September.
Ghana, Republic of. 1964. Parliamenta,y Dchates. Session 1963-64,3 7, 22nd September, 1964- 2nd October.
Ghana, Republic of, 1994, Quarter/y Digest of Statistics, XII, 1, March, Accra, Statistical Service.
Ghana Planning Commission, 1965, Seven-year Dei-clopment Plan: a briefout line, Accra, Government Printing Department.
Gold Coast, 1955, Education Report/or the Year /955, Accra. The Government Primer.
Gosh, Suresh Chandra, 1993, 'English in Taste, in Opinion, in Words and Intellect', pp. 175-195, in J. Mangan ed., The Imperia/ Curriculum: Racial Images and Education in the British Colonial Experience, New York, Routledge.
Habte, Aklilu, and Heyneman, Stephen, 1983, 'Education for National Develop ment; World Bank Activities', Prospects, Vol. Xll, No.4, pp. 471-79.
Harbinson, Frederick H., and Myers, Charles H., 1964, Education, Manpower and Economie Growth: Strategies of Human Resource Development, New York: Mcgraw, Hill.
Heyneman, S., 1987, 'Curricular Economies in Secondary Education: an Emerg ing Crisis in Developing Countries', Prospects, Vol. XVll, No.l, pp. 63-74. Kamens, David H., and Benavot,Aaron, 1991, 'Elite Knowledge for the Masses: the Origins and Spread of Mathematics and Science Education in National_
Curricula', American Journal of Education, Vol. 99, No.2, pp. 137-80.
Kay, S., and Nystrom, B., 1971, 'Education and Colonialism in Africa: an Annotated Bibliography', Comparative Education Review, June, pp. 240-259. Kimble, David, 1963, A Political History of Ghana: the Rise of Gold Coast
Nationalism, 1850-1928, London: Oxford University Press.
Lewis, L.J., 1954, Educationa/ Policy and Practice in British Tropical Areas.
London, Thomas Nelson and Sons Limited.
Mcwilliam, H.O., and Kwamena-Poh, M.A., 1975, The Development of Education in Ghana, London: Longmans.
Morsy, Zaghloul, 1987, 'Landmarks: the Secondary Education Debate', Prospects, Vol. XVII, No.!, pp. 3-8.
Odamtten, S.K., 1978, The Missionary Factor in Ghana s Deve/opment up to the1880s, Accra, Waterville Publishing House.
Orivel, Francois, and Sergent, Fabrice, 1988, 'Foreign Aïd to Education in Sub Saharan Africa: How Useful lt?', Prospects, Vol. XVlll, No.4, pp. 459-69.
Psacharopoulos, G., 1981, 'Retums to Education: an Updated International Com parison', Comparative Education, Vol. 17, pp. 321-41.
Quist, Hubert O., 1990, The Development of Education in the Volta Region of Ghana 1918-1966, Unpublished M. Ed. Thesis, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
Quist, Hubert O., 1994, 'The Missionary Element in the Development ofEducation in the Volta Region of Ghana, l 920-1950',Journal ofthe Institute of Educa tion, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, Vol. 3, No. l ,pp.119-133.Quist, Hubert O., 1999a, Seconda,y Education and Nation-Building: A Study of Ghana, 1951-1991, Ph.D. Dissertation, Columbia University.
Quist, Hubert O., 1999b, 'Secondary Education in Ghana at the Dawn of The Twenty-First Century: Profile, Problems, Prospects', Prospects, Vol. XXIX, No.4, pp. 425-42.
Sachs, Wolfgang., ed., I 992, The Development Dictionary: a Guide to Knowl edge as Power, London, Atlantic Highlands, N.J., Zed Books.
Scadding, Helen. 1989. 'Junior Secondary Schools - an Educational Initiative in ihana', Compare, Vol. 19, No.!, pp. 43-48.;;canton, David, 1964, Traditions of African Education, New York: Teachers College, Columbia University.
Smith, Noe!, 1966, The Presbyterian Church of Ghana, 1935-1960: a Younger Church in Changing Society, Accra: Ghana Universities Press.
Spaulding, Seth., 1988, 'Prescriptions for Educational Reform: Dilemmas of the Real World', Comparative Education, Vol. 24, No.!, p.5.
Steiner-Khamsi, Gita, and Quist, Hubert O., 2000, The Politics ofEducational Borrowing: Reopening of The Case of Achimota in British Ghana', Comparative Education Review, Vol. 44, No.3, pp.272-99.
fhiam, lba Der., 1990, 'The Jomtien Plan of Action in the Sub-Saharan Context',Prospects, Vol. XX, No.4, pp. 503-11.
fhiong'o Wa, Ngugi, 1986, Decolonizing the Mind: the Po/itics of language in African literature, London, J. Currey.
JNESCO, 1993, World Education Report, Paris, UNESCO Publishing. Whitehead, Clive, 1995, 'The Medium of Instruction in British Colonial Education: A Case of Cultural lmperialism or Enlightened Patemalism', History of Education, Vol., 24,
No.!, pp. 1-15.11/illiams, T .D., 1964, 'Sir Gordon Guggisberg and Educational Reform in the Gold Coast,
-1927', Comparative Education Review, Vol. 8, No.3, December, pp. 290-306.
/orld Bank, 1995, Priorities and Strategies for Deve/opment in practical Edu ation. A World Bank Review, Washington, DC.,The World Bank.