EDUCATION: Professor Quaynor Questions Development Priorities Over Shortage of Local-Language Teachers

Internet pioneer Prof. Nii Narku Quaynor has questioned Ghana’s development priorities, arguing that shortages of teachers for local languages in some communities reflect an imbalance in the country’s approach to development.

Speaking to Kafui Dey, Prof. Quaynor discussed the languages used in schools during his childhood and compared that experience with concerns about the availability of teachers for local languages.

He said the situation suggested that development was not progressing evenly across society.

“I think the society is not growing evenly,” he said.

Prof. Quaynor argued that communities should have access to teachers who can support learning in their local languages.

“I don’t see how you can have a region and you don’t have teachers in the local language,” he said.

He attributed the situation to priorities that, in his view, were not sufficiently balanced.

“It means that we haven’t done balanced development,” he added.

Prof. Quaynor said development decisions should be informed by the needs of communities and their economies rather than being based solely on people’s preferences.