The Ghana Nationwide Affiliation of Authors and Publishers has admitted the contents of a historical past guide which tried to clarify some disadvantages of the actions of the Christian missionary in Ghana usually are not appropriate for its meant learners.   

Amongst quite a lot of controversial statements, the guide titled, ‘Historical past of Ghana for Primary Faculties, Learners guide 4’, states that, the existence of faith, notably Christianity, was the reason for doctrinal conflicts and elevated poverty in Ghana. 

Addressing a information convention in Kumasi, the President of the affiliation, John Akwasi Amponsah rendered an apology for the errors, stating that the listed factors within the guide have been the views of the creator.   

“The authors did properly to debate within the pages that preceded the web page that raised the controversy; that the factors raised within the guide have been views or opinions of the creator relating to the unfavourable results of the Christian missionaries in Ghana. Nonetheless, we admit partly to the error of adherence to content material necessities and suitability of content material for the extent it was meant for,” he stated.  

The affiliation says after a painstaking examine of the web page which circulated on social media, it noticed that the content material was a response to STRAND 3, substrand 3 of the Historical past Curriculum for Major College – Missionary Actions in Ghana. 

This requires that the creator identifies missionary societies in Ghana, their location, and discusses formal schooling and different actions (together with institution of vocational coaching centres) as some impacts of Christian missionaries in Ghana. 

Nonetheless, a portion of the curriculum requirement impresses on debating the results (benefits and drawbacks) of European actions in Ghana, which the affiliation discovered subjective to the views of the creator.  

John Amponsah continued that: “The authors, we admit, ought to have remained devoted to the calls for of the syllabus and burdened the impression of Christian missionaries fairly than faith as an entire. On the problem of language suitability, we admit to the truth that the content material and the model of expression was just a little above the learners for whom the message was meant”. 

Authors of the guide listed some unfavourable results of Christian missionary actions, citing that the existence of Christianity has elevated poverty. 

The content material of the guide meant for fundamental 4 pupils didn’t sit properly with some Christian dad and mom. 

In a tweet on Might 25, 2023, a Deputy Minister for Schooling, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour additionally condemned the content material, describing it as “obnoxious, appalling, and misconceived”. 

He supported the Nationwide Council for Curriculum and Evaluation’s name for the withdrawal of the guide from the market. 

Reacting to the feedback, the Ghana Nationwide Affiliation of Authors and Publishers admitted the blunder following its evaluation of the guide. 

“We want to settle for in good religion the criticism of all stakeholders and render unqualified apology to the Ministry of Schooling, the Nationwide Council for Curriculum and Evaluation, Ghanaian Faculties, Nananom, the Christian Council of Ghana, and any Ghanaian who finds the statements obnoxious.  For a few years, Ghanaians have had confidence within the textbooks builders and have discovered their works helpful. We, because of this, plead with the individuals of Ghana and all stakeholders to proceed to have faith in our services,” he stated. 

The affiliation additional indicated that it’s subsequently establishing an inner committee to additional run evaluation of the works of its members to keep away from a repeat of such errors.  

“We can’t now proceed to over depend on editors. For if the editor makes the error and the writer doesn’t see and takes the fabric exterior to print, we will trigger the harm and we should settle for the blame. We settle for the blame. Henceforth, after NaCCA has executed its work and forwarded to editors, we as publishers are going to learn by all the things,” he stated. 

The affiliation says it stays dedicated to producing books of upper requirements for pupils’ consumption. 

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Feedback, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform don’t essentially symbolize the views or coverage of Multimedia Group Restricted.

Adblock check (Why?)