The Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Education Committee, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has raised concerns over government’s One-Student One-Tablet policy over the possible number of students who may be left out of the programme.
He says over 2.3 million students in both Junior and Senior High Schools across the country will not benefit from the policy since the number of gadgets the government procured is far below the total number of students who qualify.
In a circular released by the Member of Parliament for Builsa South Monday, March 25, 2024, he said government has procured just 450,000 tablets to be distributed to students in both Junior and Senior high schools making him question how government is going to make supply available for the deficit, following the lack of plans to procure extra devices per the 2024 budget.
“Note, that per data from the Ghana Education Service presented to Parliament during the 2024 budget process, the total number of students in our public Senior High School (SHS) was given as 1,331,219 (1.3 million), while the total number of students in public Junior High Schools (JHS) stood at 1,448,896 (1.4 million). This brings the total number of students in our Senior and Junior High Schools to 2,780,115. What the NPP manifesto promised, was tablets for ALL students; which means tablets for 2,780,115 students in Ghana.
“After seven long years (and still counting) of failing to fulfill this promise, and now with only nine months to go to general elections, the failed Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia-led government has, through GETFUND, procured only 450,000 tablets for a total of 2,780,115 students. It is worth noting, that no provision has been made either in the 2024 budget, or the recently passed 2024 GETFUND formula to procure additional tablets.
“This means, that a whopping 2,330,115 students in both SHS and JHS will not receive the tablets. With the 450,000 tablets being given to only SHS students, it means the remaining 881,219 SHS students will not have some; and no JHS student will have one.” he explained in the circular he released.
President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday, March 25, during the launch of the Ghana Smart Schools project in Accra disclosed government was going to distribute Smart Tablets to 1.3 million Senior High School (SHS) students nationwide.
The Ghana Smart Schools Project is designed to equip students under the free SHS policy with essential technological skills, aligning with the government’s commitment to advancing education through technology.
President Akufo-Addo further disclosed that approximately 100 smart SHSs are slated for construction across the country within the next two years, aiming to enhance the learning environment and educational opportunities for students nationwide.
“To distribute 1.3 million educational tablets to students in SHSs. That is one student, and one tablet under the Ghana Smart Schools Project. The tablets are fitted with digital content to aid research, teaching and learning.
“At the tertiary level, Ghana is pleased to provide at a discounted price tablets and laptops to students and lecturers to facilitate academic [activities]… The government continues to seek innovative ways to do STEM and the FSHS policy,” the President noted.
He added that “the next phase of FSHS policy enhancement will be propelled by digitalisation. This will allow a seamless online and offline teaching and learning experience.”
Total of 107 SHS students awarded scholarships by Chirano Gold Mines Limited
