By: Jude Tackie
Ghanaians have raised concern over the government’s decision to spend a staggering $325 million on providing free tablets to schools across the country.
The ambitious initiative, announced by President Akufo-Addo on March 25th, aims to distribute 1.3 million tablets to public Senior High Schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students.
However, the hefty price tag of $250 per tablet has drawn recent criticism from citizens, questioning the feasibility and necessity of such an expensive endeavour.
The Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, clarified that the $250 figure refers to the cost per device and not the Ghanaian cedi equivalent, as some had initially assumed.
The tablets reportedly supplied by KA Technologies, are listed with specifications that have raised eyebrows among experts.
The website claims the devices run on “Andriod 15,”. Meanwhile, happyghana.com has learned that the operating system version has not been released yet, casting doubt on the accuracy of the information provided.
Despite the government’s assurance that the Smart School Project is central to its “digitization agenda,” many Ghanaians are questioning the necessity of such an expensive investment, especially in a time of economic hardship.
The Education Minister has disclosed that the distribution of the first batch of 450,000 tablets, fully funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), will commence this week. This initial rollout alone will cost a staggering $112.5 million, according to the Minister’s calculations.
Critics argue that the funds could be better utilized to address more pressing issues in the education sector, such as improving infrastructure, providing learning materials, and enhancing teacher training programs.
Ghanaians continue to call for transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Smart School Project, urging the government to prioritize the efficient utilization of resources and ensure that the initiative delivers tangible benefits to students and the education system as a whole.
