Free WIFI for tertiary institutions, SHS this year - Bawumia

The Vice President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia has announced that government would this year roll-out its free internet for Tertiary Institutions and Senior High schools in the country.

He said one university and three SHSs will be used to pilot the project, with the expectation of extending it to the rest soon.

According to the Vice President, the policy was part of a broader programme to bridge the technology gap in the country and also improve learning through the use of the internet.

The Vice President further explained that government, as part of its educational reforms, wants to reach a point where students, through the internet, could watch videos on particular topics conveniently.

He cited the Memfe Methodist Girls who won the world robotic competition, saying that if a video of their performance is uploaded, other students would also learn about it in their schools. He commended the girls who represented their school, and by extension the country, at the competition.

The Vice President was speaking at the 2019 International Youth Celebration, held at Anagkazo Bible School, Mampong Akuapem, in the Eastern Region yesterday.

Dr Bawumia, who has led the country’s digitisation journey, underscored the need for the youth to take advantage of the digital era to better their lives.

The celebration focused on how the youth would make an impact in the educational reforms – with the youth making suggestions in that regard.

At the event, a group called Ghana Youth Parliament, held a sitting to discuss the education in Ghana.

As part of the proceedings, the Deputy Minister for Education, Gifty Twum-Ampofo, on behalf of the Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, made a statement on government policy on education.

She noted that government was keen on ensuring quality and accessible education for all.

The Deputy Minister, having addressed the Youth Parliament, responded to comments from members, some of which were on giving more attention to persons with disabilities in education.

The Youth and Sports minister, Isaac Asiamah, expressed happiness over what he described as the “skills exhibited by the Youth Parliament at their sitting.”

He was hopeful Ghana’s democracy had a solid future, having witnessed the ideas the youth brought out during the sitting.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Emmanuel Sin-nyet Asigri expressed the commitment of his outfit to championing the course of the youth.

He said the NYA would continue to roll out policies that are youth centered so as to provide better opportunities for the youth.