Gifted and Talented Education to be rolled out in Ghana next academic year

Ghana will next academic year roll out the Gifted and Talented Education System in selected schools to help the country leapfrog inequality and economic development by harnessing the potential of its gifted and talented students.
The move would position Ghana just as countries like the USA, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore have benefited tremendously through innovations and inventions brought about by their Gifted and Talented students as indicated above.
The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, who disclosed this to the media in Accra explained that there are thousands of Gifted and Talented children in the country but are not supported to help the transformation of the country.
Huge talents availability
He stated the country has between 513,098 and 855,163 children who are in our current Pre-Tertiary education system (6 to 10 per cent) who are Gifted and Talented and qualify for GATE Services.
Dr Adutwum announced this on the sidelines after he launched the 60th anniversary of the Accra College of Education recently.
The college which started as a day school six decades ago is now one of the best colleges of education in the country.
Eligibility and Phasing
The Education Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe in the Ashanti region mentioned that Ghana’s GATE program will cover KG, Primary, Junior High and Senior High School but will be implemented in phases.
“At the initial phase some schools, mostly the new schools at the JHS and SHS level, will be designated GATE schools and enrol 100 per cent GATE students from around the country”. He said.
Dr Adutwum indicated that GATE-designated schools will be managed by the GATE Service, an autonomous body that would be put in place for its management.
“Full-fledged kindergarten to secondary schools will be constructed in all regional capitals and designated GATE Schools. The first such school is due to begin in Accra”. He announced.
The Minister mentioned that the pathways to be established at the Senior High school level will include: Environmental Science, Aeronautics, Aerospace and Aviation; Engineering and Computer Science; Manufacturing (Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Business)
He mentioned the rest as Agricultural Science (Leadership in Agricultural Science, Animal & Crop Science, Agricultural Mechanics), Biomedical Sciences (Principles of Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, Medical Interventions), Global Studies (Legal System, Environment, Financial Sphere), Creative Arts (Flexibility, Application).
He added that the Ghanaian approach will commence with the new schools to be designated as GATE Schools and eventually include other phases in the general school system.
Background
Research shows that the Gifted and Talented are mainly responsible for Innovation Worldwide including innovations in the 4th Industrial Revolution and Innovation drives social and economic prosperity.
When rolled out, students who qualify as GATE students but do not find space in GATE-designated schools will be enrolled into the GATE programmes to be implemented at their current schools with the support of GATE Services covering Phase 2, to ensure that these students will receive the same enriching experiences as their counterparts in the GATE designated schools.
Students who are not designated Gifted/Talented will benefit from the enhanced general curriculum that will focus more on STEM and 21st-century skills.
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