Government is yet to approve the revised and proposed curriculum for Kindergarten to Primary Six developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has revealed.

From March to July, a curriculum review was conducted by NaCCA with 160 experts and later submitted to the Minister. The proposed curriculum included Computing (coding, AI concepts), Citizenship Education, and foreign languages (Arabic standardised from Primary 1–6; Chinese & French optional).

The language policy sparked huge debate after it was misreported that it was going to be compulsory, a narrative that the Minister had to clarify later.

Speaking at a ceremony to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of Great Apam Senior High School in the Central Region, Mr Iddrisu explained that the GES assessment would be followed by consideration and approval by Cabinet before the revised curriculum could be officially adopted and implemented.

He said once the GES completes its review, the proposal will be forwarded to Cabinet for consideration.

The Ministry will subsequently work with the GES and other relevant agencies, including the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, to oversee its implementation.

“We are repositioning the curriculum for learners from KG to Primary Six, with emphasis on moral values. Classroom learning alone is not enough. Problem-solving, critical thinking, analytical skills and character building will be central to the curriculum,” he said.

The proposed curriculum seeks to broaden basic education by introducing emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), electronics and digital learning.

“I am happy to note that, under President Mahama’s Reset Agenda, we will introduce Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, as well as electronics and digital learning, at the basic foundation level,” he added.

Language in upper primary

Meanwhile, the Education Minister in a statement, explained that students in upper primary will adopt local dialects as well as the English language as a medium of instruction.

According to the Ministry, “From Primary Four to Primary Six, both Ghanaian languages and English will be used as the medium of instruction. This bilingual approach is designed to support a smooth transition to higher levels of education, where English assumes a greater role, while preserving learners' competence in Ghanaian languages”.

Foreign languages optional

Addressing the major contentious proposal, the education regulator clarified that foreign languages such as French, Arabic and Chinese remain optional, not compulsory, as widely reported. It added that their availability will depend on the presence of qualified teachers and learning resources in the various schools.

“The Ministry further clarifies that foreign languages such as French, Arabic, and Chinese, among others, are not compulsory subjects. They will be offered as optional languages for pupils who wish to acquire additional language skills, subject to the availability of qualified teachers and learning resources in their respective schools”, the statement continued.