Introduction
Education is the premise for human development, national growth, and good governance in any society. According to Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful tool with which we can change the world”. Education equips us with the requisite knowledge, skills, and competencies to make an impact in the world. Quality education makes individuals useful to themselves and then to our community. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) four stipulate quality education and lifelong opportunities for all. In an ever-evolving world, how do we model education to meet the needs of today, meeting the nation’s aspirations and helping future generations tackle the challenges of their time? The following points outline how this could be achieved.
1. Critical Thinking
We need an education that teaches us how to think and not what to think. Proper education should teach critical thinking, logic, reasoning, and problem-solving skills thus churning out functional citizens. This will enable the students to contribute to solving pressing issues.
2. Leadership Skills
Leadership is arguably the focal point of development in our society. We, therefore, need an education that teaches leadership. Several universities in Ghana are running leadership programs, courses, and modules, and I believe it is a step in the right direction. However, the institution should integrate innovation into its leadership training.
3. Education and Making a Difference
Education should teach us that success lies not in making a living but in making a difference. It lies in making an impact in the lives of others. That is how we empower people, give them hope and create a better world.
4. Investment in Education
Last but not the least, we need to push for initiatives to invest more in education. Investment is needed in setting up state of the art educational centres, training and retraining teachers, and providing a viable environment for teaching and learning. A country that does not invest in its people mainly through quality education is doomed to fail.
Conclusion
It is my firm belief that we have every chance to seize the future together, and one key area that will help in this fight is quality education. We seriously need to rethink the conversation on education and shift the paradigm. On the foundation of quality education rests the pillars of democracy, good governance, and sound socio-economic development.
