Education administrator Ewurama Bennin has raised concerns about the unintended consequences of certain educational reforms designed to expand access to schools.
Speaking at the ‘Achimota Speaks’ event on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Bennin emphasized the need to balance accessibility with academic integrity, cautioning that excessive alterations in the name of inclusion could compromise both student morale and educational standards.
Bennin advocated for a merit-based system that ensures students who excel academically are placed in schools that match their capabilities.
She also stressed the importance of targeted support for students who lack foundational skills, rather than placing them in demanding academic environments without adequate preparation.
She argued that mismatched placements could erode students’ confidence and hinder their academic progress.
Frequent modifications to grading and placement criteria, she warned, risk disadvantaging certain student groups and undermining overall educational effectiveness.
“The more we tinker with education and play with the results in the name of trying to make it accessible to those who do not have access, we actually cut some of them out,” Bennin stated.
She urged policymakers to prioritize fairness and consistency in the education system, maintaining clear standards while offering structured support to students who need it.
“The first thing I would say is that stop tinkering with the results, and let it be according to those who have done well,” she asserted.
“For those who have done well, they should have the opportunity to go to the schools they want. And for those who need help, we should provide the help they need. It’s not possible to send a child who doesn’t have the foundation into a Category A school to go and learn under teachers who don’t have the specialized skills to raise children who don’t have the foundation. What you actually do is, you break their morale in the classrooms. I want to see a merit-based system,” she emphasized.
Bennin’s remarks have sparked discussions on the best ways to balance inclusivity with maintaining high academic standards, ensuring that students are placed in environments where they can thrive.
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