The Ministry of Education has firmly dismissed claims that the government intends to impose the teaching of Arabic on Ghanaian students, describing such reports as misleading and capable of creating unnecessary fear and religious tension among the public.
In a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Minister for Education, Hashmin Mohammed, the Ministry clarified that there is no policy or directive requiring Ghanaian students to study Arabic, contrary to claims circulating on social media and other platforms.
The clarification comes amid public discussions suggesting that Education Minister, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, was seeking to make Arabic a compulsory subject in schools. The Ministry stressed that the reports are false and do not reflect government policy.
According to the Ministry, Arabic is a language and not a religion, and its teaching should not be interpreted as an attempt to promote or impose any religious belief on students. Officials explained that the development of a standardized Arabic curriculum is part of broader efforts to improve educational quality and ensure consistency in schools where the language is already being taught.
The Ministry further revealed that work on an official Arabic curriculum began several years before Hon. Haruna Iddrisu assumed office as Minister for Education. The curriculum review process started at the senior high school level about four years ago as part of ongoing educational reforms led by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA).
Government officials noted that Arabic has been taught in many English-Arabic and Islamic schools across Ghana for decades. However, until now, many of these institutions relied on different teaching materials and curricula, creating inconsistencies in instruction.
To address this challenge, NaCCA developed a unified and standardized Arabic language curriculum aimed at regulating the teaching and learning of the language in schools that already offer Arabic studies. The curriculum is intended to enhance quality assurance, improve learning outcomes, and provide a common framework for instruction.
The Ministry emphasized that NaCCA’s recommendation for the adoption of the curriculum was specifically targeted at schools already teaching Arabic and any public school that may voluntarily choose to introduce the subject in the future. It was never intended to make Arabic a compulsory subject for all students.
Officials reiterated that Arabic remains an optional language subject, similar to French and other foreign languages offered in Ghanaian schools. As such, students who do not wish to study Arabic will not be compelled to do so.
The government maintained that its education policies are guided by inclusivity, diversity, and respect for the rights of all learners, regardless of their religious or cultural backgrounds. The Ministry stressed that the standardized curriculum is a technical educational intervention designed to improve teaching standards rather than a religious initiative.
The Ministry of Education also called on media practitioners, opinion leaders, and members of the public to verify information from credible and authoritative sources before sharing it, warning that misinformation on sensitive issues could undermine national cohesion and fuel unnecessary divisions.
The clarification is expected to reassure parents, students, and stakeholders that government remains committed to delivering quality education while respecting Ghana’s religious and cultural diversity. Under the ongoing education reform agenda, the Ministry says it will continue to strengthen curriculum development and ensure that all educational policies are implemented transparently and in the best interest of learners across the country.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
