National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is a key institution in Ghana responsible for developing, reviewing, and implementing curriculum for basic education and secondary education in the country, in collaboration with UNESCO, World Bank, and USAID. The council works closely with Ghana Education Service, University of Ghana, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to ensure that the curriculum is relevant and effective in achieving the country's Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4. The council's efforts are also informed by research from Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge.

● Introduction

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment plays a crucial role in shaping the education system in Ghana, with support from European Union, African Union, and United Nations Children's Fund. The council's work is guided by the Education Act (Ghana), which mandates the development of a national curriculum that reflects the country's cultural heritage, history, and values, as well as international best practices from Australia, Canada, and United Kingdom. The council collaborates with Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration to ensure that the curriculum is informed by the latest research and trends in education policy, educational psychology, and sociology of education, as seen in the work of Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, and B.F. Skinner.

● History

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment was established in 1990 by the Government of Ghana, with technical assistance from World Health Organization, International Labour Organization, and Food and Agriculture Organization. The council's establishment was a response to the need for a coordinated approach to curriculum development and assessment in Ghana, as recommended by UNICEF, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund. Since its inception, the council has worked closely with Ministry of Education (Ghana), Ghana Education Service, and National Commission for Civic Education to develop and implement a national curriculum that reflects the country's development goals, including Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda, in line with the principles of Addis Ababa Action Agenda and Paris Agreement.

● Organization and Governance

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is governed by a board of directors appointed by the Minister of Education (Ghana), in consultation with Council of State (Ghana), Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, and National House of Chiefs. The board includes representatives from University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, as well as Ghana National Association of Teachers, Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition, and Ghana Federation of Labour. The council is headed by an executive secretary who is responsible for the day-to-day management of the organization, with support from United Nations Development Programme, European Union, and African Development Bank.

● Functions and Responsibilities

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has several key functions and responsibilities, including curriculum development, assessment and evaluation, and research and development, in collaboration with UNESCO Institute for Statistics, World Bank Open Data, and International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. The council is responsible for developing and reviewing the national curriculum for basic education and secondary education in Ghana, with input from Ghana Education Service, University of Ghana, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. The council also provides technical support to Ghana Education Service and Ministry of Education (Ghana), and collaborates with West African Examinations Council, Ghana Examinations Syndicate, and National Examinations Board to develop and administer national examinations, in line with the standards of International Baccalaureate, Cambridge International Examinations, and Edexcel.

● Curriculum Development and Review

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is responsible for developing and reviewing the national curriculum for basic education and secondary education in Ghana, with support from UNESCO, World Bank, and USAID. The council uses a participatory approach to curriculum development, involving stakeholders from Ghana Education Service, University of Ghana, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, as well as Ghana National Association of Teachers, Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition, and Ghana Federation of Labour. The council also draws on international best practices from Australia, Canada, and United Kingdom, and research from Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge to inform its work, including the theories of John Dewey, Maria Montessori, and Rudolf Steiner.

● Assessment and Evaluation

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is responsible for developing and implementing assessment and evaluation frameworks for basic education and secondary education in Ghana, in collaboration with West African Examinations Council, Ghana Examinations Syndicate, and National Examinations Board. The council works closely with Ghana Education Service and Ministry of Education (Ghana), as well as UNESCO Institute for Statistics, World Bank Open Data, and International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement to develop and administer national examinations, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the national curriculum, using tools such as Programme for International Student Assessment and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. The council also provides technical support to Ghana Education Service and Ministry of Education (Ghana), and collaborates with European Union, African Union, and United Nations Children's Fund to strengthen the education system in Ghana, in line with the principles of Sustainable Development Goals and Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

Category:Education in Ghana