Today I received good insights about the Educational System in Ghana at Spread of Ideas by TEDxAccra.

The speakers were in this September edition discussing the need for better education, better teachers, better ways of learning and better preparation for the actual work life.

Many aspects are to be considered here: Elizabeth Pattersson was reinforcing that, to start off with, everyone should have access to education as it’s a basic human right. She also expressed the need for more practical exercises at schools.

Princess Umul Hatiyya Ibrahim Mahama joined in and pushed for more experimental education. She also touched on the need for teachers to go back to learning. Learning how to learn. Because this is what they should teach the kids. How to learn. Not how to memorise and repeat. 

Finally the topic that touched me the most was the part about critical thinking. The moderator asked WHY it is so important and I was thinking to myself:

Do we learn at school to question our teachers and the books selected? Do we learn at school to question authority? Do we learn at school to question what is believed to be true but has no evidence? No.

At school, we learn to follow and listen. So what happens when you come out in the real life of work? You listen and follow. 

You arrive to a company and start doing. Reports, presentations, excels. How long does it take you to realise that some of the tasks you are put to do, like a weekly summary of your own tasks, aren’t actually adding value to the business or they are simply inefficient?

Then, how long does it take you to question your manager and propose an alternative? Depending on your natural ability to think critically about things you do or things you are told, you might realise sooner than later. Then the last part usually takes longer than it should. How can we question authority if we have never done it before? 

I might take things to the extreme here. And I have still lots to learn about Ghanaian work place culture. My point is however, that we need critical thinkers to make change happen. To evolve. If you see that the management report you are preparing actually can be done more efficient and with more value added information – speak up. 

Our educational system is closely linked to the way organisations are run today. If more focus was on the people in the classroom, “student centred” was the expression Raghav Lal used today, more focus would also be placed on people in organisations.

My experience so far is largely European. But hearing the discussions today.. Europe or Sweden where I’m born, is struggling with the same educational issues as Africa or Ghana where I now live.

Education must improve and we need more “intrapreneurs” who make change happen in organisations. 

/Mina The Legend

Connect – Communicate – Collaborate
Note on Speakers background:

Elizabeth Patterson – Founder of GEIG, Girls Education Initative in Ghana. At 10 she left Ghana with her family to get a better education in the U.S. Her fight in recovering from a disability caused by an accident, led her to build GEIG helping girls with disabilities get the education they deserve. 

Princess Umul Hatiyya Ibrahim Mahama – Globetrotter and avid speaker, trainer and consultant with her own The Mad Duck Company. Writer of two books. 

Raghav Lal – responsible for establishing the Lancaster University in Ghana. 

  
@MinaLegend: #TEDxAccra Spread of Ideas speakers @raghav_lal @PrincessUmulhat @anyarkop #education #ideaafrica #tedx http://t.co/LHd9UpBqRd