Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Apaak has stressed the need for transformed school leaders who will ensure that African schools provide an education that is not skewed solely towards cognitive development but also fosters the development of the hand and the heart.
He argued that the continent’s future largely depends on the values schools, in collaboration with the home and parents, inculcate in their young people.
Dr. Apaak made these remarks at the 7th Side Event of the 2025 ADEA Triennale, which focused on School Leadership and Teacher Professional Development.
He posited that it is crucial for school leaders to create an enabling environment for students to appreciate the ideas of good morals and ethics in line with our African heritage.
Dr. Apaak stated that we must shape children through our schools to become responsible, hardworking, and well-mannered adults.
“We need to be reminded that character is the pivot around which all other ingredients for the development of human society revolve. As the 2011 Jakarta Declaration in Indonesia articulates, ‘If wealth is lost, nothing is lost, if health is lost, something is lost but if character is lost, everything is lost’. I believe strongly that it is only leaders in our schools create enabling environment for teachers to encourage African children to cherish the ideals of good morals and ethics that pertain to African culture and identity that African children can become responsible, hardworking and well-mannered adults. As we reimagine school leadership within the era of Artificial Intelligence (Ai), let us not downplay African values, particularly those linked to UBUNTU that builds us together as one people. Indeed, as one renowned author Lewis once articulated, “Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a clever devil.” I don’t think anyone of us gathered here want school leaders who will promote education without values.”
According to him, Ghana remains committed to nurturing school leaders who embody the principles of learner-friendliness, shared leadership, and Afrocentric values, adding that language is at the center of Afrocentric values.
He added “Let us interrogate how the sub-conscious meaning of the word instruction in any African language sits well with Western expressions such as instructional leadership and instructional supervision and how African meanings attached to the expression ‘to instruct’ impact on African school leaders’ practice of distributed leadership, distributive leadership, devolved leadership, dialogue, shared knowledge etc.
Together, let us shape a new generation of school leaders who will drive educational excellence, promote cultural relevance, and foster sustainable development across our continent without compromising our African Cultural Identity”.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
