The introduction of electronic textbooks on tablets under Ghana’s new Senior High School (SHS) curriculum is facing setbacks as several schools continue to keep the devices in storage months after delivery, creating tensions among parents, teachers, and administrators.
Executive Director of Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch), Kofi Asare, has raised concern that the delayed release of student tablets is undermining teaching and learning across the country. He observed that the “tablet wars” in many SHSs are eroding the intended benefits of the e-learning policy introduced by the Ministry of Education in the 2023/2024 academic year.
“The current Form 2 students are the first batch under the new SHS curriculum whose learning materials are accessible on student tablets,” Mr. Asare said, noting that the e-textbook initiative was designed to replace traditional paper-based learning materials and bridge the digital learning gap among students.
He added that while the Ministry of Education has successfully delivered nearly all tablets to the first batch within the past six months, a few schools still face deficits in the number of devices received.
However, he questioned the rationale behind withholding already delivered tablets from students who urgently need them for academic work.
“Yes, the tablets may be inadequate and may have been delayed. But which is better for Adonten SHS; sharing 936 tablets among 1,190 students, or keeping all 936 in storage for months until the remaining 254 arrive? We are in week 10, with tablets in detention”
Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch
Mr. Asare criticised the Ghana Education Service (GES) for failing to provide clear directives to schools on the distribution of the devices, arguing that the indecision has fuelled confusion and growing mistrust among parents and school heads. “Why are many SHSs still keeping student tablets in storage for months?” he asked.
The Executive Director Eduwatch warned that keeping the tablets locked away while students lack access to their digital learning materials defeats the core objective of the e-learning policy. In many schools, he pointed out, tensions have escalated into disputes between concerned parents and school authorities.
Tensions Heighten
“There is a brewing tablet war over ownership and non-release of the tablets,” Mr. Asare said.
Some parents have accused school administrations of withholding the tablets without reasonable justification, while others have expressed concern about potential damage or loss once they are handed to students.
Reports indicate that some schools have even signed undertakings with parents, holding them responsible for any damage to the tablets. Yet, despite such agreements, the devices have not been distributed months after being received.
The lack of a uniform implementation approach has created inconsistencies, with some schools allowing access while others keep the devices still locked up.
Education analysts argue that the situation exposes broader coordination failures in the rollout of the digital learning policy. The Ministry of Education had championed the e-textbook programme as part of the government’s broader digitalisation agenda to transform classroom learning and improve access to educational resources.
However, critics warn that the policy’s implementation gaps could hinder its success, particularly as the new curriculum demands extensive student engagement with digital content. Mr. Asare cautioned that without immediate intervention, the challenges could lead to poor academic performance by affected students.
“Charlie, Ghana Education Service, if you do not fix this and other teaching challenges under the new SHS curriculum, there may be no need for a committee to investigate poor performance in the 2027 WASSCE”
Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch
Stakeholders have since called on the Ministry of Education and GES to ensure that all schools release the tablets to students and provide the necessary technical support to sustain the initiative.
They have also urged the government to clarify policies on accountability and responsibility for the devices to prevent future disputes between schools and parents.
The tablet programme remains one of the government’s most ambitious education technology projects aimed at bridging inequality in learning access and modernising teaching tools. Yet, as the “tablet wars” persist, concerns continue to grow over whether the policy will meet its intended objectives.
READ ALSO: Government to Boost Gas Output to 350m scf/d by 2028
