Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia has commissioned Opoku Ware Senior High School (AWASS) Smart Nana Akufo Addo classroom block stocked with digital devices including tablets as part of the government’s efforts on digitalized teaching and learning activities in the Senior High Education sector across the country.

The Vice President used the occasion to also launch distribution of Free of Charge tablets to students on campus to actualize the government promises to SHS students.

The was graced by the Ashanti regional minister Simon Osei Mensah, General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party Justin Frimpong Kodua, Patricia Appiagyei Deputy Majority leader in Parliament, Stephen Asyesu Ntim national chairman of NPP among other respected members of the party.

Speaking at the event, Education minister, Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum said, “it is very interesting to note that it is within the Akufo Addo classroom block that the smart classroom has been configured. This is interestingly telling a story of what Nana Akufo Addo has done for this nation and the foundation he has laid for the transformation of our society and the nation. I’m also reminded by the great work the vice President has also done by digitalizing almost all sectors of the Ghanaian society. It is now the turn of the education sector’’.

He added “now we are in the Opoku Ware SHS to distribute tablets and inspect digital classrooms. Indeed, this is a great day for all of us. The journey of free distribution tablets and digitalizing Ghana’s Senior High education system has begun from the Opoku Ware. This project will go to all other schools across the country. I will make sure they have their tablets and the headmasters are helping with operationalization. I’m happy that the headmaster of Opoku ware has taken up the challenge’’ he assured.

He further said” this is an opportunity for visual arts students to make full use of the computer labs to acquire 21st sanctuary skills which were not daily available. On a daily basis due to lack of computer labs accessibility’’.

Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia on his part said the ruling government is fully committed to change the state of the country through education.

He said “the numbers that allow us to graduate from Senior high school to the University are good numbers to transform this country. This is why we introduced free education and it is working very well. We have increased the enrollment from 800,000 to 1.4 million. Most importantly we have also seen the performance of the students going up significantly. The WASSCE core six subject the past rate in 2016 was 41% and 2023 was 64%’’ he said.

Dr. Bawumia further explained that “as the world is going digital Ghana cannot be left behind, this is why the idea of making sure that every senior high school in Ghana students are given tablets which are preloaded with all the textbooks as well as past questions to improve your learning experience’’.

Vice President Dr. Bawumia said many people in the country criticized the government that the idea will not see the light of the day.

“When we mooted this idea, many people thought it wasn’t possible. No country in Africa and very few countries in the world, certainly not America, United Kingdom, and Estonia, reputed to be the most digitalized country in the world that I know of, has made that policy decision of providing tablets to their students. When I went to Estonia to meet the President, he president told me they have planned to distribute tablets to their students, but they have not done it. So, Ghana is pioneer in this space in Africa. I’m convinced the tablets are really going to inspire your productivity’’.

Headmaster of the Opoku Ware Senior high school Rev. Father Stephen Owusu Sekyere commended the government for selecting Opoku SHS for the smart classroom project first in Ghana and Ashanti in particular.

He said” I was aware of the challenges that the project may present in the start; however, management and the teaching staff including my student are fully prepared to make progress on any challenges that may arise. We will equally make sure that the students make use of the tablets for their intended purpose’’.

Source: Kasapafmonline.com/Isaac Justice Bediako