Concerned Parent Laments Over GES-Approved Textbooks Containing Disturbing Song Lyrics, Video
- A Ghanaian mother expressed surprise after finding Afrobeats lyrics in her daughter's GES-approved Creative Arts textbook
- She criticised the curriculum, questioning the educational value and age-appropriateness of songs from some artists
- Her video sparked online debate as Ghanaians shared concerns about textbook content and education standards in schools
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A concerned Ghanaian mother has taken to social media to express her displeasure over what she describes as inappropriate content found in her seven-year-old daughter’s school textbook.
Source: Twitter
In the post that has sparked debate online, the yet-to-be-identified woman questioned the educational value and age-appropriateness of some lyrics that are taught in school settings.
Ghanaian lady vexes over Creative Arts textbook
According to her, the Creative Arts textbook, which is part of the Basic 3 curriculum and approved by the Ghana Education Service (GES), includes the full lyrics of two Afrobeats songs — “Johnny” by Yemi Alade and “Come and See My Mother” by Yemi Alade and MzVee.
She said:
"I’m shocked! This is part of the new curriculum. How did this pass the vetting process?"
She explained that while she understands the importance of culture in education, there are more suitable songs that can be used for teaching music or creative arts.
She stressed that exposing children to mainstream Afrobeats lyrics, some of which may carry themes not suitable for their age, could do more harm than good.
Source: UGC
The mother further called out the GES, stating that if they are struggling to find age-appropriate material, they should “look for something else” instead of including songs that belong more in a club than in a classroom.
Watch the video below:
Reactions to lady's comment on GES-approved textbooks
YEN.com.gh collected reactions from Ghanaians who listened to her complaint on X. Some of the comments are below.
@QuophiBaah1 said:
"You are telling the truth. I’m a teacher myself, and in B6 Creative Arts, we teach the biography of Basket Mouth and Lucky Dube while we’re in Ghana teaching Ghanaian kids. In the first place, they are not necessary, they only make the book bulky and also put stress on the kids."
@04Marshes said:
"Same woman will be playing Cardi B in her house. Kmtfd."
@Royalty_All_Day commented:
"You'd be surprised that some of these same kids will sing Kuami Eugene's Monica and Lasmid's Puul back to back, word for word without having it in a textbook."
@shardegee2002 wrote:
"This needs to trend because so much nuisance is in these so-called privately developed textbooks for our kids; what happened to the government of Ghana textbooks? What are we doing to ourselves, koraa? It seems we are not learning anything whilst we grow as a country."
Ghanaian father prevents daughter from writing BECE
YEN.com.gh had earlier reported that a father stopped his daughter from writing the BECE after a pastor prophesied she would die if she sat for the exams.
The MCE and Municipal Education Director intervened after being alerted to her absence and convinced the father to let her take the exams.
The girl missed the first paper, and it was not clear if she was allowed to complete the remaining exams.
Source: YEN.com.gh
