The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is demanding either the removal of Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu or an apology from President John Dramani Mahama over the controversy surrounding the proposed teaching of Arabic and Chinese in Ghanaian schools.
The NPP’s Education Sector Policy Committee says the President cannot dismiss the issue by declaring that no such policy has been approved, arguing that the Education Ministry had already taken steps towards developing and preparing the curriculum.
President Mahama said on September 12 that Cabinet had not approved any policy to introduce Arabic and Chinese across public schools.
He said, “No such policy has been approved by the Cabinet that I chair,” and urged the public to put the matter to rest.
But the NPP says the President’s position creates a serious question about the authority under which the Education Ministry and its agencies acted.
According to the party, Iddrisu had earlier announced that Arabic and Chinese would become compulsory foreign languages at the secondary school level and linked the initiative to President Mahama’s vision for education.
The party argues that if the Minister made that announcement and subsequently directed institutions to work on the policy without presidential or Cabinet approval, then he should no longer remain in office.
“If the Minister announced and pursued this policy without presidential and Cabinet approval, the President must sack him,” the NPP said.
The party added that if the Minister acted with the knowledge or authority of the President or Cabinet, then Mahama should apologise to Ghanaians and explain what had happened.
The controversy has developed despite earlier clarification from the Education Ministry that Arabic, Chinese and French would not be compulsory under the proposed revised basic school curriculum.
The ministry said the languages would be optional and dependent on the availability of qualified teachers and learning resources.
The NPP says the President therefore has to account for the apparent difference between the work undertaken by the Education Ministry and its agencies and his declaration that no new policy had been approved.
The party says the matter raises questions about ministerial authority, Cabinet approval and coordination within the government.
It insists that the controversy should not simply be considered closed following the President’s statement.
