By Jones Anlimah
Junior High School (JHS) students at Adaklu Seva D/A Basic School in the Volta region face a daunting challenge of writing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in June, without any practical experience, as they have never used a computer before in their preparations for the external exams
Although ICT is a mandatory subject in the BECE curriculum, students at the school lack the practical exposure necessary to pass the exam. According to the headmaster of the school Mr. Noah Adeti, the school does not have a single computer, making it impossible for students to develop basic digital skills.
“Our education system is supposed to be inclusive, yet educational resources are not distributed equally,” Mr. Adeti said. “Our students are expected to write an ICT exam, yet they do not know how to switch a computer on or off. This is a major challenge.”
This digital divide places rural students at a significant disadvantage compared to their urban counterparts, many of whom have access to computer labs and regular ICT lessons. With the world increasingly reliant on digital skills, the lack of computers in schools like Adaklu Seva D/A Basic School raises concerns about the future readiness of these students.
Mr. Adeti made a passionate appeal for at least 20 laptops to help bridge this gap, emphasizing that without practical experience, students are being set up for failure. “We are therefore pleading with our visitors to help us with 20 laptop computers,” he appealed.
His remarks came during a visit by Ja Rule and the Country Director of Pencils of Promise, Mr. Freeman Gobah, who toured the school to assess the impact of the NGO’s educational programs. While Pencils of Promise has contributed significantly to teacher training, classroom resources, and sanitation improvements, the headmaster stressed that ICT education remains an area requiring urgent intervention.
This situation contradicts Ghana’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which seeks to promote equitable access to quality education and digital literacy for all students. Without access to basic ICT tools, students in underserved areas like Adaklu Seva risk being left behind in an increasingly technology-driven world.
The headmaster’s plea serves as a wake-up call for stakeholders, donors, and policymakers to address the digital divide and ensure that all students, regardless of location, have access to the tools they need for success in the 21st century.
