Teachers urged to prioritise 21st-century skills in students for national development

Teachers in Ghana have been advised to intensify the development of the 21st Century Skills which were considered as tool for the National development in their students.

Mr. Boakye-Baafi Williams, Ahafo Regional Manager of Catholic schools made the call when the Ahafo Regional Catholic Education Unit in collaboration with the Association of Catholic Private Basic Schools Heads in the Goaso Catholic Diocese organised a quiz competition for the Junior High school students in the Catholic Private Junior High Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Goaso at CMI Carmel School at Biokrom near Bechem in the Tano South Municipal of the Ahafo Region.

He explained that the time had come for teachers to Intensify and prioritize the development of the 21st Century Skills in their students to prepare them for future endeavors. He pointed out that 21st Century Skills like critical thinking, problem solving, communication and collaboration, personal development, creativity and innovation and digital literacy were tools for the development of any society.

He indicated that one way for teachers to help develop such essential skills of the 21st Century in their students was through quiz competitions since it was in such learning competitions students develop and apply critical and problem-solving strategies as well as communication and collaboration competencies.

He said ‘when students are allowed to apply the 21st-century skills they have acquired through teaching and learning processes, it will help them to contribute their quota to the National development in the area of creativity and innovations since they have acquired the basis which is the critical thinking and problem solving’.

The quiz was on mathematics, Science and Catholic Youth Organization Handbook.

The participating schools were CMI Carmel School, Holy Spirit School, St Joseph School, Henry Hueging Memorial School, OLA Preparatory and Mother Ignacia School.

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At the end of the contest OLA Preparatory School at Hwidiem in the Asutifi South District won the competition with 37 points, followed by the Henry Hueging Memorial School at Goaso in the Asunafo North Municipal with 36 points and the third position was occupied by the CMI Carmel School at Biokrom in the Tano South Municipal with 33 points.