On Tuesday, September 3, 2024, the Ghana Geographers Association (GGA) kicked off its annual conference for T-Tel teachers training at the Department of Geography and Resource Development on the University of Ghana campus.
The event featured esteemed speakers, including Prof. Charlotte Nana Wrigley-Asante, Head of the Department of Geography and Resource Development; Mr. Robin Todd, Executive Director of T-Tel; and the President of the GGA, alongside prominent geography educators from secondary and tertiary institutions nationwide.
Founded in 1958 by pioneers like Prof. Benneh, the GGA has been a vital platform for geography educators across Ghana. The association holds its annual conferences at various tertiary institutions, bringing together geography teachers from all regions to explore innovative teaching methods aimed at enhancing educational outcomes.
In an exclusive interview with UniversNews, Prof. Wrigley-Asante highlighted the conference’s objectives.
“As part of the conference, academics present their research papers, we foster networking opportunities, and most importantly, the GGA annual conference is a chance to enhance the skills of those teaching geography in secondary schools while sharing the latest trends in our field.”
The Executive Director of T-tel and primary sponsor of the conference, Mr. Robin Todd, engaged attendees on the new Senior High School Curriculum introduced by the government for the upcoming academic year. He stressed the importance of moving away from rote memorization in teaching practices.
“Our success as teachers is often judged by the Wassce results and the only way we can get the Wassce results is to do the chewing and pouring. We recycle this teaching method and later claim we have ten years of teaching, but it is actually one year of experience of teaching, repeating it ten times. This is demotivating. What we have decided to do is to focus on Ghanaian geography only. We have mining and similar things that are so topical to be explored!”
Also present, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Geography, Prof. Alex Braimah Owusu, also echoing Mr. Todd’s sentiments, emphasized the need for a localized curriculum that resonates with students’ experiences. “Under the new curriculum, when describing a community, we should focus on relatable geography rather than distant regions. For instance, we can map local forests and natural resource reserves. This approach encourages collaborative group projects where students can explore real-world issues, such as mapping flooded areas in their communities,” he explained.
Prof. Owusu also addressed challenges faced by the association, particularly regarding participation due to costs associated with travel, accommodation, and meals for attendees. “Thanks to T-Tel’s immense support in funding these essential aspects, we have seen increased participation from our members over the years,” he noted.
The conference will span a week, providing comprehensive training for teachers across various subjects on the new curriculum and its innovative approaches. The GGA remains committed to empowering geography educators and enhancing the quality of education in Ghana.
Story By: Fauzia Salim | univers.ug.edu.gh
