The Ministry of Education has dismissed reports suggesting that the government intends to make the teaching and learning of Arabic compulsory for Ghanaian students.
In a statement issued on August 10, 2026, the Ministry described the claims as misinformation and misconceptions, stressing that there is no policy or directive to impose Arabic on Ghanaian students.
The Ministry explained that the development of a standardised Arabic language curriculum by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) was aimed at bringing uniformity and quality assurance to schools where Arabic is already being taught.
According to the Ministry, the process began about four years ago, before the appointment of Haruna Iddrisu as Education Minister.
It said Arabic has been taught for decades in English-Arabic and Islamic schools across the country, but the schools had previously been using different curricula without a single officially approved standard.
The Ministry clarified that NaCCA’s standardised curriculum is primarily intended for such schools, as well as any public primary school that may voluntarily choose to introduce Arabic in the future.
It stressed that the development of the curriculum does not make Arabic a compulsory subject in public schools.
The Ministry also sought to dispel concerns linking the teaching of Arabic directly to religious instruction, emphasising that Arabic is a language and should not be interpreted as an attempt to promote or impose any religious belief.
It further noted that Arabic, like French and other foreign languages apart from English, remains an optional subject in Ghana’s public schools.
The Ministry has consequently urged the public, media practitioners and other stakeholders to verify information from authoritative sources before circulating claims that could create unnecessary fear, misunderstanding or religious tension.
By: Bernard Mensah
Discussion about this post