INTRODUCTION

Ghana is endowed with a good education system a statement made by BBC News monitoring Department. The History of education in Ghana dates back to 1592. Over the centuries education has had different goals, from spreading the Gospel to creating an elite group to run the colony. After Ghana gained its independence in 
1957 the education system, then modelled on the British system, has undergone a series of reforms.
 Especially the reforms in the 1980ís geared the education system 
away from purely academic to more in tune with the nations manpower needs. The present structure of education, which starts at the age of 6 years, consists of 6 years of primary education, 3 years of Junior Secondary School, 3 years of Senior Secondary School and 4 years University or courses at other tertiary institutions. The first 9 years form the basic education and are free and compulsory .

Already great progress had been made in the education sector. Various Mission Schools were now scattered over the interior of Ghana. By 1881 there were 139 schools. However the education systems used varied widely. This prompted the government to draw up its first plans in the 1882 to guide the development of education. An Inspector of Schools was instated from 1887 until 1890. Then the office of the Director of Education was created. In 1918 the first real targets for the development of education were set by Sir. Hugh Clifford:

- Primary education for every African boy and girl 

- A Training College for teachers in every province

Ultimately the proposed targets and recommendations from several committee's such as the Phelps-Stokes Fund from America and theî1922 Committee led to the opening of the Prince of Wales College in 1927. Later it became the Achimota College. It offered general secondary education as well as post secondary technical education and teachers training for both sexes. 

The former College is now a prestigious (secondary) school and the present University of Ghana has its roots in the Achimota College.

Great strides were made on the education front from 1922 till 1938. Several Industrial Schools were established, focusing on technical and agricultural education. A separate Department of Education was instated to bring the neglected Northern territories in tune. 

At the Prince of Wales College scholarships were awarded to students to continue their studies in British universities.

Chapter 2 - THE COLONIAL ERA