Maths and English are colonial subjects, says UG lecturer
John Edmundson has suggested that children who struggle academically should be given the opportunity to compete with "their physical abilities"
John Edmundson, a lecturer at the School of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana believes that making theatre arts or creative art core subjects would benefit a large number of students.
Edmundson has said academic success should not be measured with how good students perform in Maths and English.
Speaking on Artsy on Saturday (3 August) Edmundson said, “We need people who are not that bright but can use the physical thing to pass through. We need those people. Let’s give that person the opportunity.
He suggested that children who struggle academically should be given the opportunity to compete with their physical abilities. “He got a 30 mark, but he is skilled in this. Let’s just have the person [and help them].”
“… because the Maths and English to me, I’ll tell you, it’s colonial. It has disturbed us big time. What is maths and English? Where has it gotten us?
“I’m telling you that maths is in the arts. X and Y is in the arts.”
Edmundson, however, advise educational institutions to separate students with talents so that they can specialise in their preferred fields.
“And I went to Germany for just 10 days. We went to an institution. Kids are there. They have been able to segregate these kids, put them in specialised areas.“
“Those that see their action, you know, and they can go into chemistry. They are there. Those are into soccer right from age seven, they segregate them. And so they’ll become specialists. And we’ll still be here, making sure certificates become the order of the day.
“If you give the Ghanaian child the opportunity today, he will not go and do business. You want to come into the apps because you realise what they are doing, they are making money.“
According to him, “Somebody can drop out at the senior high school level, but if he/she has a skill like the carpenter, he knows how to do sound, he/she can start from there [and develop his/her talent.“
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