The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is collaborating with the Ministry of Education to explore the integration of human rights education into Ghana’s school system. In a significant move, CHRAJ has submitted a proposal titled, “Mainstreaming Human Rights Education in the Ghanaian School System,” to bring this vision to life.
A delegation led by Mercy Larbi, the Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, recently met with the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Adutwum, to discuss the initiative. Ms. Larbi emphasized the importance of teaching human rights as a fundamental component of education, sharing that CHRAJ, in partnership with the Danish Institute for Human Rights and other stakeholders, has developed a framework aimed at standardizing human rights education for pre-tertiary students.
Ms. Larbi outlined CHRAJ’s ambition for human rights to be introduced as a stand-alone subject within Ghanaian schools. She argued that dedicated attention to human rights would foster greater understanding and respect for personal and societal rights among students from an early age.
Responding to the proposal, Dr. Adutwum acknowledged the importance of human rights education but cited the challenges of an already crowded school curriculum. He suggested an alternative approach of embedding human rights topics into existing subjects such as *Our World, Our People* at the junior high level and *Government* at the senior high level.
To make human rights education accessible to younger students, Dr. Adutwum proposed developing storybooks on human rights themes for kindergarten to primary six, suggesting that these could serve as essential supplementary readers. This approach, he explained, would allow students to engage with human rights concepts in an age-appropriate and integrated manner.
Dr. Adutwum also recommended extending human rights education into tertiary institutions, especially for students pursuing fields such as teaching and nursing. He noted that professionals in these areas often encounter human rights issues firsthand, making it crucial for them to have a strong foundation in human rights principles.
The meeting concluded with both parties expressing a shared commitment to advancing human rights education in Ghana. Both CHRAJ and the Ministry of Education see this initiative as a step toward creating responsible, informed citizens who uphold the principles of respect, dignity, and equality.
The introduction of human rights into Ghana’s educational system is seen as a significant measure in fostering a culture of awareness and empathy across generations.
