On Wednesday, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia officially launched the distribution of the government’s Tablet Computers to Senior High School (SHS) students in Kumasi.
This initiative is part of the government’s One Student One Tablet Programme, aimed at accelerating ICT-aided teaching and learning, and is implemented by the Ministry of Education.
The programme plans to provide free tablets to approximately 1.2 million public senior high school students.
It was initially launched by President Akufo-Addo in March in Accra as part of the Ghana Smart Schools Project, which seeks to transform existing school facilities into Smart Schools and build new structures where needed.
In addition to students, teachers and staff of the Ghana Education Service will receive free laptops under a separate arrangement to facilitate research, teaching, and learning. Both laptops and tablets come preloaded with learning materials, including textbooks.
During the ceremony, Vice President Bawumia also inaugurated the Nana Akufo-Addo Smart Block at Opoku Ware School. This block is equipped with digital devices such as Smart Boards, computers, and internet access, making it the first Smart School under the Ghana Smart Schools Project.
Addressing the event, Vice President Bawumia emphasized the government’s commitment to creating a digitally modernized learning environment in senior high schools nationwide. He highlighted the importance of digital reforms in ensuring students are prepared for the fourth industrial revolution.
He described the occasion as historic, noting, “Ghana is among few countries in the world where government has supplied students with Tablet computers and this is to ensure the future does not elude our children”.
“Ghanaian students must face the 4th industrial revolution with a sense of pride and a mindset for growth”, he said to a cheering crowd of students.
The Headmaster of the school who is also the National President of the Conference of the Heads of Assisted Schools (CHASS), Rev. Fr. Steven Owusu Sekyere pledged a good use for the facilities.
Minister for Education and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwi, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, also spoke at the event, stressing that Ghanaian students must embrace the digital age with pride and a growth mindset.
The Headmaster of Opoku Ware School and National President of the Conference of the Heads of Assisted Schools (CHASS), Rev. Fr. Steven Owusu Sekyere, pledged to ensure the facilities are used responsibly and effectively.
Bishop Gabriel Yaw Anokye of the Catholic Church in Kumasi commended the government for its efforts to transform educational institutions.
Vice President Bawumia personally handed out tablets to some students, with all senior high schools in the region expected to receive their tablets soon.
The distribution of tablets began in March, with many schools already having distributed them under various phases of the project.
The Ghana Smart Schools Project aims to enhance the quality, delivery, and outcomes of the Free Senior High Schools Programme, also known as Free SHS.
The government has also announced plans to introduce the Free SHS Act in Parliament to provide legislative backing for the programme.