Gov’t launches integrated E-learning laboratories

Gov’t says it is highly committed to improving educational outcomes in country with the provision of 240 E-learning laboratories to aid 240 selected Senior High Schools (SHS) in the country as a way of facilitating teaching and learning through ICT.

Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, Minister of Education on Tuesday, August 10, 2016 reiterated gov’t commitment to support the selected 240 SHS throughout the country with the integrated E-learning laboratories, the new project aimed at improving educational outcomes in the country through ICT.

Speaking at the launch of the project in Accra, she revealed gov’t through its commitment to promote education in the country has contracted a 13.2 million Euros loan from the Belgium government to be used for the establishment of e-learning laboratories for the benefit of students in 240 selected SHS throughout the country.

The E-learning project, a component of the current TELEVIC agreement seeks to support the implementation of the government’s E-learning objectives and plans; provide the technology needed to develop electronic course material for schools, facilitate computer lab-based classroom teaching and promote access to ICT infrastructure by connecting all beneficiary educational senior high schools to internet support learning; facilitate ICT integration in the curriculum and to build capacity of teachers.

The Integrated E-learning laboratories project in collaboration with other e-learning projects such as E-transform and Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP) according to the Minister will provide standard, nationally relevant content for all senior high schools in Ghana, beginning with public schools.

Under the regional distribution of the beneficiary schools list, Ashanti Region tops with the highest number of 40 laboratories followed by the Volta Region with 37 and Eastern Region 32.

Others are Brong Ahafo Region 31, Central Region 28, Northern Region 23, Western Region 18, Upper West Region 13, and finally Greater Accra and Upper East Region with 9.

Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman hinted two other e-learning projects are also being implemented through the World Bank facility which is the E-learning for 200 SHS including the SEIP component as a way of “further demonstrating gov’t total commitment to improving educational outcomes”.

“Our plan is to cover all public SHSs as all three projects come on stream. This project is instructive of Gov’t and Ministry’s determination to exploit all relevant and beneficiary avenues to ensure quality education” the Minister stressed.