Teacher Retraining Will Tackle Social Media Jargon – Adutwum

Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the former Minister of Education, has urged continuous teacher training to address the impact of social media language on students' academic performance. In an interview with JoyNews, he emphasized the need for teachers to distinguish between informal communication and academic language usage. According to Dr. Adutwum, this situation presents an opportunity for the education system to enhance teacher development rather than a crisis.

He suggested that teachers should be trained to identify inappropriate social media expressions in students' schoolwork and correct them before habits form. Dr. Adutwum proposed professional development programs and learning communities to facilitate teacher collaboration and problem-sharing. He argued that classroom exercises and internal exams could help detect weaknesses in students' formal language use.

The minister stressed the importance of guidance and counselling to educate students on when informal language is acceptable and when formal language is required. A comprehensive approach involving teacher retraining, regular assessments, and academic counseling would enable schools to effectively respond to the influence of social media on students' writing.