By Issah Mohammed
Accra, Dec. 1, GNA – The E-mort School Complex, a private Ghanaian school, has signed an agreement with the Yaroslavi Pedagogical University of Russia to introduce the teaching of the Russian Language as an extra-curricular activity.
The initiative forms part of a cultural exchange programme between the two institutions, aimed at equipping young Ghanaians with skills to explore future opportunities.
A letter of understanding was signed on the opening day of a two-day seminar on the theme: “How to Better Understand Russians.”
The event sought to strengthen cultural, academic and diplomatic relations between Ghana and the Russian Federation by deepening understanding of the Russian people, their education system, culture and innovation pathways.
Professor Alexander Kofi Preko, Founder of the E-mort School Complex, said learning a foreign language at an early age gave Ghanaian children a competitive advantage in the global space.
“Education is education, no matter where you have taken it from. The most important thing is for you to demonstrate to others that you have really brought knowledge back to your country,” he said.
Prof. Preko, who pursued his tertiary education in Russian universities through scholarship programmes, encouraged Ghanaians seeking to study abroad to consider Russia as a preferred destination.
Ms Natalia Muzhehennikova, Consular at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ghana, said stereotypes portrayed in the media had created misconceptions about Russians.
Those misconceptions, she noted, had discouraged some students from exploring opportunities in Russia.
“We need to know Russians, we need to know the Russian Language, the Russian culture and the Russian history, and this is the only way to understand us as a nation,” Ms Muzhehennikova said.
She noted that mutual cultural understanding was essential for bilateral cooperation and critical to Ghana’s sustained growth and development.
Ms Kravets Valeriia, the Deputy Head, International Department of the Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University, said the two institutions would implement joint educational activities, including the establishment of a centre for open education to promote Russian culture and language.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe