MoE gives update on ‘delayed’ new curriculum textbooks

After almost three years of introducing a new curriculum for pre-tertiary public schools, the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum says the distribution of the new curriculum textbooks is ongoing at the regional level.

In a discussion monitored by AcademicWeek, he said the Ministry of Education (MoE) after the second term vacation would commence the nationwide distribution of the curriculum textbooks to students in mid-September this year.

“The good news is that textbooks are going, most of the publishers have completed printing, distribution I think is ongoing through the regional warehouses for onward distribution to classrooms,” Dr Yaw Adutwum stated.

According to the Education Minister, government basic school students after school reopens for the third term of the 2022 academic year will receive the new curriculum textbooks for effective teaching and learning for better outcomes.

The update comes after the Ministry in charge of Education after completing all procurement processes by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) said approved publishers in September will supply the textbooks to all public schools.

“With the completion of all procurement processes by the PPA, publishers are expected to supply textbooks within 120days. The Education Minister is still committed to providing our basic school textbooks,” MoE stated in a statement.

A spokesman for the Ministry, Kwasi Kwarteng following the process has urged Ghanaians to disregard information indicating the government will be unable to provide schools with the textbooks for the new curriculum until 2024.

Admitting the textbooks for the new curriculum has been delayed, the Public Relations Officer indicated that stakeholders associated with the curriculum textbooks are working tirelessly to ensure they are provided in due course.

“We have been working with the appropriate institutions, including Public Procurement Authority, printers, and publishers to ensure delivery of books to various schools,” the Education Ministry’s spokesperson noted in a release.

He also disclosed that 150,000 teacher resource packs have been distributed to public school teachers across the length and breadth of the country to enhance teaching and learning activities to improve learning outcomes.