In a bid to revolutionize education through digitalization, the Ghanaian government, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education (MoE), recently unveiled the Smart School Project (SSP).
The initiative aims to integrate technology into the teaching and learning process, ostensibly to enhance educational outcomes across the country’s junior and secondary schools.
However, amidst the ostentation of technological advancement, a stark reality emerges as the country’s education sector is besieged by deep-rooted challenges, primarily revolving around inadequate infrastructure and resource deficiencies.
While the introduction of technology into classrooms is heralded as a progressive step, the allocation of 450,000 tablets to students in a country grappling with a fundamental infrastructure deficit raises eyebrows and incites criticism.
With over 2.7 million students enrolled in junior and secondary schools in the country, the decision to prioritize costly procurement over addressing fundamental infrastructure deficiencies seems ill-conceived and politically motivated.
The glaring irony lies in the fact that nearly 5,000 basic schools across the country are forced to operate under makeshift arrangements, utilizing spaces under trees, sheds, and dilapidated structures as classrooms.
Shockingly, approximately 40% of basic school children also lack adequate desks, further exacerbating the challenges faced by educators and students alike. In such dire circumstances, the provision of tablets appears inappropriate and out of touch with the pressing needs of the country’s education system.
Furthermore, recent reports shed light on a myriad of issues plaguing the country’s senior high schools, ranging from substandard food provisions to deteriorating infrastructure and living conditions.
These revelations underscore the systemic challenges that persist within the education sector, warranting urgent attention and decisive action from policymakers.
Critics, including prominent figures such as Lawyer Kofi Bentil, the Vice President of the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, have expressed vehement reservations regarding the government’s procurement-driven approach.
Mr Bentil strongly asserted that the emphasis on distributing tablets overlooks the critical deficiencies in basic educational infrastructure, perpetuating a cycle of neglect that undermines the foundation of quality education in the country.
“Both NDC and NPP governments have a penchant for procuring laptops! from RLG to Smart Schools. It is difficult for me to accept that procuring laptops for students is proper in a nation that still has schools under trees and serious issues with textbooks and feeding”
Lawyer Kofi Bentil
Allocation of Resources In Ghana’s Education Sector
Lawyer Kofi Bentil’s comments further underscored the broader concerns about the allocation of resources in the education sector, where tangible disparities persist between urban and rural schools.
He noted that despite progress in certain areas, including increased enrollment rates, many students still lack access to fundamental educational necessities.
It is important to state that the debate surrounding the government’s Smart School Project transcends beyond mere technological integration as it underscores the need for a holistic reassessment of the country’s educational priorities.
Addressing systemic challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, and curriculum deficiencies should take precedence over costly procurement initiatives.
While progress has been made in certain areas, including increased enrollment rates, the persistent disparities between urban and rural schools particularly underscore the urgency of a comprehensive overhaul.
As Ghana endeavours to chart a path towards educational excellence, it is imperative for policymakers to heed the voices of dissent and prioritize investments that address the foundational needs of students and educators alike rather than pursuing initiatives that are procurement-driven.
It is only through a concerted effort to tackle the root causes of educational inequities that can help the country’s effort to fulfil its promise of providing quality education for all children.
READ ALSO: Ghana’s Power Woes Deepen as ECG Fails to Deliver Load Management Timetable
