Blend Tradition With Modernity to Strengthen Education — UniMAC Lecturer
By: Solomon Nartey Tetteh
A lecturer at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), Dr. Paul Herzuah, has called for a balanced and responsible approach to educational development in Ghana, urging the country to preserve its cultural values while embracing modern technological advancements.
Speaking on The Focus Show on Zed 101.9FM, Dr. Herzuah stressed that the nation’s educational system must draw from its historical foundations while also adapting effectively to global trends.
“The first thing that we ought to do is to keep our values, keep to the standards that we were given, handed over by our forefathers. We should keep it,” he said.
He revealed that while tradition remains important, Ghana cannot afford to ignore modernity. This, he said, includes science, technology, artificial intelligence, and other new tools shaping the future.
“We should equally also embrace modernity in a more positive and more responsible way,” he emphasised.
Dr. Herzuah highlighted that the best path forward is a careful blending of both worlds, maintaining traditional values while applying the positive aspects of modern advancements.
“When we blend them very well, that will give us a sharper focus and the way forward,” he noted.
He cautioned, however, against unchecked exposure to modern technology, particularly social media, which he described as “rife with a lot of negative things.”
“We owe it a duty as parents, as teachers, and as a nation to streamline the way we embrace these things,” he said.
He expressed satisfaction that government is working on legislation to regulate social media usage, despite ongoing debate. Such measures, he said are necessary to prevent potential risks.
Dr. Paul Herzuah, also criticised the level of preparedness that accompanied Ghana’s transition from the British O-Level and A-Level system to the Ghana Education Service (GES) structure, describing it as inadequate and poorly implemented.
He noted that although the intention behind the transition was commendable, the process lacked the necessary groundwork to ensure its success.
“At the time that we switched away from the British model, the O-levels and A-levels, I think we were not well prepared for what was coming. Late President Rawlings was a military leader then, and I want to believe that due diligence did not go deep enough into the preparation,” he said
Dr. Herzuah explained that the GES system was initially built around the idea of providing workshops, life skills, and hands-on learning. However, the reality on the ground did not match the policy vision.
