Mr. Samuel Tettey speaks at the 12th Graduation ceremony and 13th Speech and Prize Giving of the VRA International School at Akuse on the theme, “Equipping Learners with the requisite skills to navigate today’s world of Information overload”
He defined Information overload as a situation where the amount or complexity of incoming information exceeds a person’s ability to process it, leading to poor decisions, mental fatigue, or paralysis.
On Why Information Overload is a serious problem to the learner,
First, there is a lot of false information out there. On social media especially, false news spreads very quickly – sometimes faster than the truth. Young people who cannot tell the difference between what is true and what is made up can easily be misled. This can affect the decisions they make about their health, their relationships, their future, and even their country.
Second, too much information can be tiring. When your mind is constantly receiving messages and notifications, it becomes exhausted. This affects concentration, mental health, and the ability to think clearly.
Third, too much information can make us shallow thinkers. When we are used to reading only headlines and short captions, we lose the ability to read deeply, think carefully, and understand complex issues. In today’s world, we waste too much mental energy on information that does not add value to our lives. Our young people need to learn how to use their minds more wisely.
WHAT MUST THE SCHOOL DO TO EQUIP THE LEARNER?
The School must assist the students to acquire the following skills:
SKILL 1: THINK CRITICALLY – ASK QUESTIONSThe most important thing we can teach any child is how to think.When a student sees a piece of information – on their phone, in a newspaper, or from a friend – they must be able to stop and ask: Is this true? Where did this come from? Who is saying it, and why? Is there another side to this story?This is what we call critical thinking – and it is a skill that must be practised every day, in every subject. In simple terms: before you believe something unusual or shocking, ask for proof. Do not be quick to share what you are not sure about.
SKILL 2: KNOW HOW TO USE TECHNOLOGY WISELYMany of our learners today know how to use a smartphone better than most adults, including their parents. But knowing how to use technology is not the same as understanding it.Being truly smart about technology means knowing how social media platforms work – how they are designed to keep your attention and show you content that keeps you scrolling, not necessarily content that is true or good for you. It means knowing how to check whether a story or image is real, and understanding the dangers of sharing personal information online.Technology gives our young people great power. But that power must be used with wisdom and care.
SKILL 3: KNOW WHAT IS WORTH YOUR ATTENTION One of the greatest skills a young person can develop today is the ability to choose wisely what to pay attention to. Focus on what builds you. Spend time on what teaches you something. Ignore what only serves to anger, confuse, or distract you. When we do not give our children the right guidance, they will fill that gap with whatever the world offers them – and not all that the world offers is good.
SKILL 4: NEVER STOP LEARNINGThe world is changing very fast. Some of the jobs that will exist when our present learners become adults do not even exist today. Technologies that will shape their future have not yet been invented.This means that, what they learn in school is important – but it is only the beginning. The most successful people in life are those who never stop learning. They read. They ask questions. They stay curious. They adapt. As said by Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” But education does not end when you collect a certificate today or in the near future. It continues for the rest of one’s life – in everything you read, every experience you have, and every challenge you overcome.
SKILL 5: MANAGE YOUR EMOTIONSIn a world full of provocative content, online arguments, and fast-spreading emotions, the young person who can pause, breathe, and think before reacting has a huge advantage. Emotional maturity – knowing when to speak and when to stay quiet – is just as important as academic intelligence.
The Good Book says in Proverb 17:28- “Even a fool is considered wise when they stay silent, and is thought to be discerning when they hold their tongue”.Being emotionally strong is not a weakness – it is wisdom.
Finally, I expressed a heartfelt appreciation to the headmistress and staff and commended them for the very good job they are doing.
“Teaching is one of the most important jobs in the world, and it is not always easy, but the impact you have on the lives of these young people will outlast any trophy, any title, or any salary. You are nation builders. You are the thumbs without which the educational knot cannot be tied. I encourage you to keep finding new and better ways to teach. Go beyond textbooks. Help your students think, debate, question, and discover. Build a school culture where curiosity is celebrated and learning is a joy, not just a duty.
According to Henry Adams, “The teacher affects eternity: He can never tell where his influence stops”.
“I stand here today as a Director of education because of my teachers’ influence and I will die with it”.
