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🇬🇭 Ghana /Culture & Society

French, Arabic, Chinese remain optional in Ghana's revised school curriculum, Education Ministry confirms

From Ghanaian Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Ghana's Ministry of Education clarifies that French, Arabic, and Chinese will remain optional subjects in the revised basic school curriculum.
  • The ministry refutes claims that these foreign languages have been made compulsory, emphasizing that Ghanaian languages will be the primary medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Primary Three.
  • English will be used alongside Ghanaian languages from Primary Four to Six, with foreign languages available only to students who opt for them, contingent on school resources.

Ghana's Ministry of Education has addressed public misconceptions regarding the proposed revised basic school curriculum, clarifying that French, Arabic, and Chinese will continue to be optional subjects. The ministry issued a statement on August 2, 2026, to counter claims that these foreign languages have been made compulsory.

The new curriculum framework prioritizes Ghanaian languages as the main medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Primary Three. This approach aims to foster literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills in a language familiar to young learners. Transitioning to Primary Four through Primary Six, a bilingual approach will be adopted, incorporating both Ghanaian languages and English to support students' progression to higher education levels while preserving their fluency in local languages.

This bilingual approach is designed to support a smooth transition to higher levels of education, where English assumes a greater role, while preserving learners’ competence in Ghanaian languages.

— Ministry of EducationExplaining the rationale behind the language policy for primary school education.

Foreign languages, including French, Arabic, and Chinese, will be offered strictly as elective subjects. Their availability will depend on schools possessing qualified teachers and adequate learning materials. The Ministry stated that this policy aligns with internationally accepted educational practices, which support early learning in a familiar language before introducing additional languages.

The Ministry stressed that this policy supports Ghana's broader goals of enhancing literacy, promoting multilingualism, and safeguarding the nation's linguistic and cultural heritage. Officials urged parents, educators, and the public to disregard misinformation suggesting the compulsory inclusion of foreign languages, reaffirming the Ministry's commitment to improving learning outcomes and preparing Ghanaian children for a globalized world.

Foreign languages, including French, Arabic and Chinese, would only be offered to pupils who choose to study them.

— Ministry of EducationClarifying the optional status of foreign language subjects.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ghanaian Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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