Ghana's new SHS curriculum: making practical science real

Ghana has reformed its basic school curriculum and introduced a new Senior High School curriculum that emphasises practical work, critical thinking and real-world problem solving. Free SHS has also brought many more students into secondary school, which puts pressure on laboratories and equipment.

The opportunity

More students in science classes is good news for Ghana's future. The challenge is giving every one of them real practical experience.

How virtual labs help

• Scale: every student gets a turn, regardless of class size.
• Consistency: schools without well-equipped labs can still teach the same practicals.
• Preparation: students rehearse before using scarce real apparatus.

Linking to STEM schools

Ghana has invested in STEM-focused senior high schools and centres. Virtual labs can extend that STEM experience to schools that do not yet have specialist facilities.

Ideas for lessons

• Integrated science: heat and temperature with the Kinetic theory of gases lab.
• Physics: electricity with the Electrodynamics lab.
• Chemistry: acids, bases and salts with the Inorganic chemistry lab.
• Elective ICT and engineering: logic, robotics and 3D modelling.

Assessment

Use the virtual labs for formative assessment tasks, collecting screenshots and short reports as evidence of skill.

Sign up free and try one lab with your class this week.