Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin has emphasized that holistic education is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process that demands the combined efforts of educators, institutions, families, students, and the broader community.
Speaking at the Silver Jubilee celebration of Queen of Peace Senior High School in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region, the Speaker called on all stakeholders—parents, families, communities, schools, tutors, governments, and the global community—to actively participate in the provision of holistic education.
He stated, “Together, we grow and flourish in knowledge, intelligence, skills, competencies, creativity, and honesty.”
Rt. Hon. Bagbin urged educators and institutions to re-imagine their roles and embrace the responsibility of shaping a future that fosters human development, happiness, and sustainability.
He emphasized the importance of prioritizing investments in human resources over physical infrastructure, noting that people remain at the heart of development.
He called for the creation of environments where individuals can thrive, innovate, and lead.
Speaker Bagbin encouraged the students to take ownership of their educational journeys, discipline themselves, and focus on their futures as well as the future of humanity.
He urged them to seek opportunities that challenge them and enable them to contribute meaningfully to their communities and beyond.
To community members and stakeholders, the Speaker called for collaborative efforts to create educational systems that empower rather than merely educate.
He appealed for support in developing skills-based initiatives and partnerships with schools to provide students with opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts.
He further called for peaceful and enabling environments that promote sustainable development and spiritual growth.
According to Speaker Bagbin, holistic education involves a wide range of elements, including Parenting and family education, role modelling and mentorship, moral education and community service, critical thinking and project-based learning and emotional intelligence, empathy, and growth mindset development
He emphasized the importance of schools encouraging student participation in decision-making processes through platforms such as student councils and leadership workshops, which foster confidence and prepare students for leadership roles.
Quoting Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Speaker Bagbin remarked, “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”
“If given an option between knowledge or character, I will always prefer character to knowledge,” he added.
He called for the establishment of an educational ecosystem that nurtures not only intellectual growth but also the moral and ethical development of students, aspiring to produce thought leaders, problem-solvers, and global citizens capable of navigating the complexities of an interconnected world.
