By Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, July 3, GNA – Mr Anis Haffar, an educationist, says schools must prioritise critical thinking in education to enable students to develop the ability to think independently and address real-world challenges.
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital access to information should change how students learn and solve problems, he said.
Mr Haffar made these remarks at the launch of the 2026 Literacy Challenge competition, organised by Channel One TV and Citi FM for Ghana’s pre-secondary learners.
This year’s competition would examine the opportunities and challenges of AI in the country’s education system for a grand prize of GHS10,000 and a laptop.
The competition, which had traditionally targeted Junior High School students, has in recent years expanded its scope to include all young people between the ages of 11 and 15.
Participants are to, in not less than 600 words, “Write A Letter to the Minister of Education, As A Youth Consultant, Discussing the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Education.”
“Advise On How Ghana Can Effectively Integrate AI Into Basic Schools to Improve Teaching and Learning, While Ensuring That Students in Rural and Underserved Communities Are Not Left Behind.”
Mr Haffar, also a Chief Examiner for the competition, said education must focus on developing problem-solving skills and not rote learning, which hindered the thinking capabilities of students.
He stressed that students must be trained to identify solutions to societal challenges using the tools available to them.
“What we are looking for now are solutions to societal problems, because these tools are available for us to use,” he added.
Ms Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong-Abbey, Head of Programmes Production at Channel One TV, said the competition would be held in three stages, where participants would first submit essays on the assigned topic before the top 100 contestants advanced to a written aptitude test in Accra.
Also, the final stage would see the top 48 contestants, from the 16 regions in a group of three, battle for top honours in a classic quiz competition.
She said the top regional teams would receive a cash prize of 15,000 Ghana cedis, thus each member of the regional team taking home 5,000 Ghana cedis apiece.
“Each person also receives a trophy, because mind you, they are all not coming from the same school, so each of them can take a trophy back to show their colleagues what they have achieved and share in the pride. They also will receive medals and certificates of participation,” she added.
Ms Apiorkor said the competition aligned with Ghana’s broader education and literacy development goals by encouraging innovation, creativity and critical thinking among the next generation.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe