The Ministry of Education has inaugurated the Advisory/Oversight Committee and the Technical Committee for the EXTRA CHORAL 2026 National Senior High School (SHS) Choral Cultural Festival in Accra.
The committees have been tasked with overseeing the execution of the national event and embedding its core artistic framework directly into the country’s foundational learning priorities.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Minister’s Conference Room, the Deputy Minister for Education emphasized that the initiative goes beyond mere musical entertainment, serving as a critical platform to nurture talent, build confidence, and deepen cultural appreciation among Ghanaian youth.
The Minister noted that education must extend beyond formal academic instruction to provide learners with opportunities to discover their creative abilities while acquiring the values needed to become well-rounded citizens.
“Today we do more than form two committees. We put in place the structure that will govern and deliver a programme uniting education, culture, creativity and practical learning. EXTRA CHORAL aligns with the priorities of the Ministry of Education, and we expect it to advance them through learning that is practical and relevant,” the Deputy Minister stated.
The programme, developed in partnership with HARRYLIND CONSULT and supported by the Ghana Education Service (GES), directly aligns with the Standards-Based Music Curriculum developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA).
According to the Ministry, the festival is designed to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy by allowing students to apply classroom concepts to musical texts, rhythmic counting, performance budgeting, and cultural designs.
Addressing the newly appointed committee members, the Deputy Minister charged the Advisory/Oversight Committee to provide strong strategic direction, institutional guidance, and accountability, while directing the Technical Committee to translate the vision into practical classroom tools for teachers.
“In the end, we will measure the success of EXTRA CHORAL not only by the quality of performances on the national stage, but by what our learners can understand, communicate, calculate, create and apply because of it,” the Deputy Minister added.
The Ministry also called on development partners, including UNESCO, to support the seven-year EXTRA CHORAL framework, which covers teacher training, learning materials, regional and national activities, and continuous monitoring and evaluation.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana