Dr. Joshua Zaato, a senior lecturer in the University of Ghana’s Department of Political Science, has advocated for changes to the country’s educational system that will better identify and honor students who excel in athletics and other practical abilities.
Following their historic victory in the 2025 FISU University World Cup Football in Dalian, China, the University for Development Studies (UDS) football squad issued his remarks. To win the world championship, UDS defeated Paulista University of Brazil 2-1.
Dr. Zaato stated that the accomplishment of the UDS team highlights a long-standing weakness in the nation’s educational system in an interview on Channel One TV on Monday, September 29, 2025.
He bemoaned the shortcomings of Ghana’s educational strategy.
“The policy we now have is broken, and it doesn’t seem to reward things like sports. It is still structured to focus on reading and writing, and again reward nerds and bookworms, and leave people with their skills. It is not too late. We can change, especially now that we have a different ministry for youth development and a ministry for sports,”he stated.
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In order to establish an integrated system that develops and recognizes skills outside of the classroom, he asked the Ministries of Education, Youth Development, and Sports to work together more closely.
According to him, there are many athletic and other abilities in different institutions, but they are wasted because they are not acknowledged or recognized.
The UDS victory has reignited discussion about how to strike a balance between recognizing athletic skill and intellectual excellence.
