The project, which seeks to deepen the application of information technology (IT) in teaching and learning at the second cycle level, also involves the construction of 100 Smart Schools across the country, 30 of which will be completed by the end of this year.

Each tablet is fitted with digital content to aid research, teaching and learning.

At the tertiary level, the government plans to provide at a discounted price, tablets and laptops to students and lecturers to facilitate academic work.

Launch

At the project launch, President Akufo-Addo said although largely successful, the government continued to seek innovative ways to further improve on the Free SHS Policy.

He explained that the project would ultimately enhance the performance of students and prepare them better for higher learning and competitive careers in future.

He explained that the government was convinced that the next phase of Free SHS enhancement would be propelled by digitalisation.

“This will allow a seamless online and offline teaching and learning experience. Indeed, the enhanced Free SHSs will be environmentally friendly, boost academic performance fitted with interactive displays, interactive learning and increase productivity”.

Ghana Smart Schools Project

Touching on the other components of the Ghana Smart Schools Project, which is the provision of 100 modernised infrastructure, he said the remaining 70 schools were expected to be completed in the next two years.

President Akufo-Addo said the plan was that the 100 Smart Schools would be located in the cities in all 16 regions.

Features

These smart school buildings, he said, would be fitted with solar panels “as we the government seek to promote new and environmentally sustainable energy, meaning that the schools would be off the national electricity grid.”

“The President said the schools would also have digitalised infrastructure to advance teaching and learning and that the physical infrastructure took cognisance of the country’s unique climatic conditions, and would create a conducive atmosphere for learning.

“The schools will represent a new urban landmark for urban rural land use and planning. There will be modern iconic facilities, depicting the collective resolve of people for transformative and futuristic education,” he added.

SDGs

President Akufo-Addo said the project was in fulfilment of the education for sustainable development agenda, a key element in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goal number four, which prioritises quality education, a key driver for the attainment of all 17 SDGs.

“It will provide the needed infrastructure to facilitate e-learning and digitalisation to boost high school education in the country.

And as a well thought out arrangement, a student will be provided with an electronic tablet on which are comprehensive teaching and learning management systems and digital learning contents to facilitate research, teaching and learning,” he explained.

Highest enrolment

On Free SHS enrolment, President Akufo-Addo noted that from the initial annual enrolment of 422, 940, some 503,000 children entered SHS this year, the highest ever enrolment of children into SHS in a single year in the country’s history.

He added that 5.10 million children had so far benefited from the Free SHS Policy since it was instituted in September 2017.

He said this had consumed a considerable budgetary allocation of some GH¢ 12.8 billion, amply demonstrating the sheer determination by the Akufo-Addo government to ensure that education became a catalyst around which the future transformation of the nation would revolve.

“I am particularly proud of how in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and other dire economic constraints, we have been able to sustain the free senior high school programme and advanced it even further with additional TVET without compromising the needs of the lower level of our education system,” President Akufo-Addo noted.

Minister

The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, said under the Free SHS programme, the government had produced some impressive outcomes and results from the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Currently, he said, Ghanaian SHS graduates were studying in some of the prestigious universities in Ghana and other parts of the world, with some of them emerging tops at the WASSCE level, adding that “this is the legacy of the Akufo-Addo-led government”.

He said across the country, the government had enhanced the state of infrastructure on various campuses and provided more textbooks, other teaching and learning materials and taken steps to enrich the curriculum “as we chart a new pathway to future high school education”.

“We provided computers to schools and provided free WiFi to propel their utilisation. We worked with the teachers through their unions to procure laptops for them to aid their work.

We have also boosted the reward system with an enhanced Best Teacher Award scheme.

“This government will ensure that the education sector continues to receive the best investment,” he added.

Dr Adutwum said time was ticking for Ghana and the rest of the world to achieve the target set in the Sustainable Development Goals and for those in the education arena, they had only the next six years to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”

Source: graphic.com.gh

On Saturday April 6, Eduwatch participated in workshop organised by the Parliament of Ghana for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the new Standing Orders of Parliament.

Parliament at its 37th Sitting of the Third Meeting of the Third Session, held on Thursday December 21, 2023, adopted by a Resolution, new Standing Orders of the House. The Standing Orders, which came into effect on January 2, 2024, introduces significant changes to parliamentary business procedures to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of Ghana’s legislative process.

The orientation offered CSO representatives the opportunity to appreciate the changes in the new Standing Orders.

Some CSOs in attendance were IMANI Africa, SEND Ghana, GNECC, Parliamentary Network Africa, Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, BudgIT Ghana, and IDEG.

© Africa Education Watch

On Wednesday April 17, Eduwatch honoured an invitation from the Parliament of Ghana to participate in a consultative meeting on the draft Open Parliament Action Plan.

The Plan sets out to align the following commitments Parliament made in the 5th National Open Government Partnership (OGP) Action Plan:
1. Establish oversight mechanisms in Parliament to ensure achievement of the National OGP commitments.
2. Enhance access to information on Parliament’s work in an easily accessible, user-friendly and timely manner.
3. Increase engagement between Parliament and citizens.

The meeting offered Eduwatch and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) the opportunity to make inputs into the Plan before validation and implementation.

Participating CSOs included IDEG, Odikro, Renee Ghana, Parliamentary Network-Africa and ACEPA.

© Africa Education Watch

On Wednesday April 24, Eduwatch's Executive Director facilitated a full-day training session on Education Advocacy and Accountability. The training was organised under the auspices of ActionAid Ghana.

In his presentation, Mr. Kofi Asare highlighted significant progress made by Ghana in achieving Universal Primary Education over the past two decades, as basic school enrolment increased from 4.9 million in 2005 to 8 million in 2023 in both public and private KG, primary and Junior High Schools. He however decried the fact that 1 million children aged 4-18 have never been to school, of which 48% are girls, adding that 400,000 children aged between 4-18 have dropped out, of which 57% are girls, while about 35% of KG entrants are not completing school nationally.

The Eduwatch Executive Director urged stakeholders to demand accountability from school authorities and government, as part of their contribution to school/education development. He stated that accountability at the school level could be in the demand for effective use of textbooks and teaching aids, availability and quality of food (in School Feeding schools), as well as effective teaching and learning.

On Education Advocacy, Mr. Asare urged stakeholders to employ various advocacy tools i.e., lobbying, campaigns, lawful demonstrations, media advocacy and social media advocacy in demanding accountability. He cited examples of Eduwatch's media and social media advocacies as reference.

Participants in the workshop were made up of School Management Committee members and Parents in the Ga West municipality.

© Africa Education Watch

New Uniforms
There is nothing wrong with changing primary school uniforms after decades. It is okay to have a common uniform for all public primary schools.

White attracts dirt too easily, meaning, the average pupil may require at least two sets of uniforms. The poor may struggle, as some even struggle with just one set.

Painting
Painting is a maintenance issue in many schools. Some have not seen paint for a decade. Schools must be painted regularly to look decent and nice.

On the colour, let us consider one that will not dirty early, since we do not have funds for regular painting. White obviously dirties too early.

The Minister for Education has clarified, that the new ultra-modern 21st Century basic schools being built by H.E. Nana Akufo Addo will be painted blue and white; different from the existng ‘20th Century’ schools. Their students will wear a new uniform.

We urge government to work towards ensuring existing public basic schools are well resourced to provide effective teaching and learning, while ensuring proper devolution and prioritization of public basic education service delivery and infrastructure provision.

© Africa Education Watch