Education in Ghana

The education system in Ghana is based partly on a developed up to the villages of the country state school offer. There are also some offers from private schools and madrassas. All three systems can be chosen freely by the parents of school children and are basically equivalent to each other. It follows, for example, that students of a madrasa may well change in the public school. This change, however, partly due to a demotion to the class, so at least a partial repetition of a school year.

• 5.1 First Degree - Bachelor
• 5.2 Second Degree - Master
• 5.3 Doctorate - Doctorate degree

General

The basic training over a period of 9 years is free in state schools. Only the further education makes the payment of school fees mandatory. However, the textbooks and other teaching materials have to be paid by the students.

In Ghana, there is an obligation to wear a school uniform, which is to be financed by the parents. The boys wear a knee-length pants and a short sleeve shirt to. The girls wear all one strap dress to the knees. The colors of the school uniforms are dependent on the individual schools. There are all sorts of color combinations, for example, of brown-orange to blue - white to green - yellow.

The school children will meet in the morning at seven clock on the school front yard and keep a small parade. Carefully arranged in rows, the national anthem is sung.

The school year begins in September and ends in June of each year.

Structure of the education system

Children are often placed early in kindergartens in Ghana, especially in the cities. Here, several trained teachers take care of a larger group of preschool children.

Basically, all children in Ghana have a right to a nine-year education, which was last fundamentally reformed by the President Jerry Rawlings in 1987.

Primary School

In Ghana, school starts for the kids usually to the age of six. After enrollment followed by six years in the Primary School, of which there are about 12,630 in Ghana. This school is to be compared with the German primary schools. The children are taught basics of reading and writing, and mathematics. There are also the subject General Science, in which all sciences are summarized. Also, Social Studies and sports are other subjects. Language of instruction is English, but also the respective locally dominant national language (eg Akan, Twi ).

Junior Secondary School

The education at primary schools (Primary Schools ) is supplemented by the three-year junior secondary school, visiting the students typically between 12 and 15 years of age. This junior secondary school ends with the Basic Education Certificate Examination ( BECE ). Approximately 5,450 schools of this type there are in Ghana.

This basic training is to basically every child and young people in Ghana are available and aims to empower every individual to change to a vocational training or higher education.

In the Junior Secondary School -depth knowledge to be taught in the subjects already known.

Senior Secondary School

The Senior Secondary School is comparable to the Broad with the German upper station in which the students should be prepared to attend a university, college, or, outgoing qualifying. The students are usually from 15 to 18 years, so another three years of school, in this advanced level. Approximately 503 schools of this type will be entertained in Ghana.

The Senior Secondary School ends with the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination ( SSCE ), which is regarded as access authorization for participation in higher education.

Higher Education

For higher education in Ghana, universities, colleges, technical schools, Professional Institutes and pre-service training include institute. All higher education institutions are summarized in the National Council for Tertiary Education (National Council for Tertiary Education ), which is an institution for consultation and coordination at the national level. The Council is faced with the Minister of Education.

Each educational institution has its own council and its own administration or a similar device. The offer technical colleges, the programs at the end of the Higher National Diploma ( HND), are currently in transition and will also offer courses on the state of the universities in the future.

A degree in higher levels of education in the context of distance education ( Ghana National Tertiary Level Distance Education Programs ) opened the field of higher education, which require a higher degree of flexibility in their own training for such students. This is used, for example, of students who are still able to afford the tuition fees due to the financial situation of the family, but not the cost of studying in a different city with accommodation and meals.

Even older adults who are pursuing a professional, if necessary, to complete their university degree and enter the world of other career opportunities through this program.

This distance learning programs is mainly based on scripts and other written documents, but also makes use of multi -media support. In many cases, the study by e -mail and access the Internet is commonly provided critical support.

Training of Teachers

Currently meeting the teacher training as part of basic training, so of primary school teachers and teachers of the junior secondary school, not yet taken at the university level. There are training for this independent teacher training institutions (post - secondary teachers Training college). The training lasts three years following the Senior Secondary School and can be started with the presentation of the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination ( SSCE ). At the end of the Post- Secondary Education Teachers Certificate A is awarded. The curriculum of this training center has been revised to reflect changes to the content and methods within the framework of basic education to meet.

Teachers of Senior Secondary School may at the University of Education in Winneba ( University for Education) make a one-year course leading to the Certificate of A (Certificate A) for non-professional teachers in technical and vocational subjects.

Also in Winneba holder of Certificate A, the Specialist Certificate or the completion of two subjects at the University can enroll for a three -year course for teachers at the senior level to the graduate level. A two-year course is offered to holders of a diploma or certificate in education ( educational studies ).

Teachers for the higher education level are formed in two to three years at the universities. Here they are completed with the degree of Master or Doctor degrees.

Universities

Some of the younger universities were founded by churches or religious communities than private universities.

The universities attract because of their level of education and the extensive possibilities of choice of subjects, many students from other West African countries.

See also: List of universities in Ghana

University degrees

Universities offer three forms of financial statements to: First Degree, Second Degree, Doctorate (PhD)

First Degree - Bachelor

The universities in Ghana,

• University of Ghana, Legon ( University of Ghana)
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology ( Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology)
• University of Cape Coast ( University of Cape Coast)
• University for Development ( University for Development Studies )
• University of Education ( University for Education)

Offer four -year courses for graduates of the Senior Secondary School with the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination ( SSCE ). This course is shortened for candidates with GCE A level in three years. At some of the universities where you can also visit a two year course.

Second Degree - Master

The master's degree can be occupied by students who already have a Bachelor 's degree from an accredited university. For the master's degree two years of full -time study or four years part-time study must be demonstrated. At least two semesters must be demonstrated at the local university. Graduates are awarded the degree Graduate Diploma, Master or Master of Philosophy ( MPhil ). For completing the proof of a one-year MPhil casework in addition to the two years of study as a full time student still necessary, as well as a research paper with a thesis paper. It is possible to switch to the MPhil or PhD course when first the shorter Master's course has been started.

Doctorate - Doctorate degree

Access to doctoral degree ( PhD) have only students with a degree as Master or Master of Philosophy. Doctoral students must complete the first two years at the university. When was previously stored at the same university the Master or Master of Philosophy, this time is reduced to one year.

After the studies in a minimum one-year period outside the university are to continue to operate. The doctoral degree will only be awarded if the graduate has completed his research, including the presentation and defense of theses. The doctorate was for a period of at least three years.

Additional degrees of higher education

The higher technical or vocational training is still offered by colleges and so-called Post- Secondary Preservie Training Institutions.

Such are, for example,

• Health Training Institute ( Health Education Institute )
• Nursing Training Colleges ( sister school - nursing )
• Agricultural Colleges ( Agricultural College )
• Schools of Forestry training ( technical school for forestry )
• Teacher Training Colleges ( teacher training college )

The courses in these training centers usually last three years and end with a certificate or diploma.

Colleges offer courses in economics, engineering, applied arts, natural sciences or engineering.

Legal framework

The education system is essentially based on a few laws. Mentioned are:

• Act 87, the Education Parts IV and V, year 1961; As for higher education
• NLC Decree 401, Year 1969; concerns Universities and Comparable
• PNDC Law 42 Year 1983; Change in the education system from 1961
• White Paper on Reforms to the Tertiary Education System, Year 1991; Expansion of the higher education sector