The Ministry of Education has clarified that French, Arabic and Chinese will remain optional subjects under the proposed revised basic school curriculum, rejecting claims that the languages have been made compulsory.

In a statement issued on August 2, 2026, the Ministry said recent public discussions had created misconceptions about the language policy for basic schools.

It explained that Ghanaian languages would be used as the main medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Primary Three.

According to the Ministry, this is intended to help children develop literacy, numeracy, critical thinking and other basic learning skills in a language they understand well.

The statement added that from Primary Four to Primary Six, both Ghanaian languages and English would be used for teaching.

“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,” the Ministry stated.

The Ministry stressed that foreign languages, including French, Arabic and Chinese, would only be offered to pupils who choose to study them.

Their availability, it said, would depend on whether schools have qualified teachers and the necessary learning materials.

The Ministry said the policy is based on internationally accepted educational practices which show that children learn better when they begin their education in a familiar language before gradually learning additional languages.

It noted that the policy supports Ghana’s efforts to improve literacy, promote multilingualism and preserve the country’s linguistic and cultural heritage.

The Ministry urged parents, teachers, school authorities, media organisations and the public to disregard what it described as misinformation suggesting that foreign languages had been made compulsory.

Signed by the Press Secretary to the Minister of Education, Hashmin Mohammed, the statement said the Ministry remained committed to education policies that improve learning outcomes and prepare Ghanaian children for an increasingly interconnected world.

By:Jacob Aggrey

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed Ghana’s Presidential Envoy for Reparations, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, to provide evidence to support his use of the academic title “Dr.” or stop using it if he cannot prove that it was properly awarded.

In a letter dated July 27, 2026, GTEC said it had observed that Mr. Spio-Garbrah describes himself publicly as “Amb. Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah.”

The Commission stated that it was concerned about the use of academic titles that have not been earned or formally conferred through a recognised academic process.

“The use of such titles, particularly when lacking formal academic validation, can be misleading and is inconsistent with established academic protocols and standards governing the conferment and use of academic ranks in Ghana,” the letter stated.

GTEC asked Mr. Spio-Garbrah to submit clarification on the title, including the name of the institution that awarded the doctorate, whether the degree is earned or honorary, the date it was conferred, and the process through which it was awarded.

The letter was addressed to him at the Office of the Presidential Special Envoy for Reparations at the Castle, Osu, in Accra.

The Commission said that if he is unable to provide the required documentation, he should immediately stop using the title “Dr.”

It directed him to provide evidence that the title has been removed from official documents, institutional profiles, websites, letterheads, and any other public or professional platforms where it appears.

GTEC gave Mr. Spio-Garbrah until July 31, 2026, to submit the requested information.

By: Jacob Aggrey