By: Issac Asare
The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, says Ghana’s quest to leverage the economic transformational agenda led by digitalization, will come to naught if institutions of higher learning are unable to produce and build the capacity of students to become more creative and innovative.
He noted the creation of digital experts will not only propel the country’s socio-economic development, but also lead the way for job creation and business opportunities worldwide.
Dr. Osei Adutwum was launching an initiative dubbed “Enhancing the University of Ghana Student Experience through Digitalization”, in Accra.
The launch was to officially promote the three-pronged technology driven initiatives mooted by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, when she was inducted into office as the first female Vice-Chancellor in October 2021.
Key among the initiatives are the Classroom Modernization Policy which seeks to increase opportunities for distance and virtual education across the various University of Ghana campuses.
This involves the expansion and upgrade of classrooms to ease congestion and augment the school’s infrastructure deficit to enable it to cater for the large student population.
The one student-one-laptop initiative on the other hand, has a strategic objective to employ innovative mechanisms to equip needy students, faculty and staff with free and affordable laptops to enhance teaching and learning and bridge the digital divide.
The last component which is the Hot-spot Comfort Zones will see the establishment of 15 Wifi spots across campuses of the University. With this in place, students can access free internet on campus and relax in between lectures to make use of their free periods.
The idea according to the Vice Chancellor is in pursuit of high academic excellence aligned with global standards driven by technology.
In a bid to enhance student experience and sustain the gains made from its mission and practice, the University of Ghana has plans to establish an Assembling Plant for the production of laptops among other digital technologies in the coming years.
This proposed initiative was welcomed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum who highlighted the urgent need for Ghana’s educational system to help actualize the government’s digitalization drive.
The three pronged technology driven initiative is said to cost $7million including the provision of modernized classroom furniture, ICT equipment and physical work.
A former President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas who is an alumnus commended Management of the school for the bold initiative and called on colleague alumni, government agencies as well as Corporate bodies to support the worthy cause.
