The Minister for Communication Sam George says his outfit is committed to ensuring schools and students in the country acquire the latest knowledge and innovation in digital literacy and hard ware equipment to rub shoulders with counterparts in the developed world.
According to him such a task will not be limited to mainstream education but technical and vocational education as well. To achieve this he has called upon stakeholders in the education sector to liaise with his Ministry to find ways and solutions that will provide digital education and materials to students to make them ready for the future.
The Minister made these remarks in a speech read on his behalf by the director of digital technology of the Ministry of Communication, Samuel Antwi-Gyekyi at the launch of an education technology service solution for Ghanaian students and teachers at the ALX, Airport Square at Airport in Accra yesterday.
Education ecosystem
The Managing Director of Coral Reef Innovation Africa, the brain child behind the innovation, Richard Osei-Anim said the initiative dubbed ‘Learnairium’ will provide a technological labs, digital learning materials such as chrome books, lap-tops and other Artificial Intelligence inspired tools for students and teachers to make leaning easier and bridge the gap between the developed world and Ghana.
“Over the last three years we have made access, equity and inclusion as the cornerstone and pillar that the education ecosystem should be built around with e-tech and digital literacy an integral part for the future of our children,” he stated.
He revealed that his outfit has made tremendous research at about how to improve digital literacy in the Greater Accra and Northern Regions of the country and engaged with relevant stakeholders and partners on how to create students who can solve problems.
“Coral Reef has supported 700 schools in Ghana and in our conversation with students, teachers and parents we realized they were in dire need of innovative and technological equipment and items and way on how education can be made easier with Artificial Intelligence and other innovations,” he stated.
Stakeholders
A panel discussion involving stakeholders including AI trainers, teachers and training coordinators called on parents to ensure their wards are equipped with the best innovative and technological tools to prepare them for the future and other eventualities.
Mr Oko Neequaye Tetteh an educationist stressed the importance of digital literacy among pupils and touted its effectiveness in teaching in the classroom.
“Although AI is very useful and important, it can only be useful to a pupil or a child when he or she is able to prompt it in the right way or use it for the right purpose for his or her benefit,” he stated.
He charged educationists and teachers to teach students how to prompt AI during its usuage to derive the right and accurate responses.
Cost
Mr Richard Osei-Anim told the Daily Graphic that the items, equipment and materials which parents are required to purchase for the Learnairium will range between GHC2000 to GHC150,000. He disclosed that prices will reduce with investments and support from partners and stakeholders after the piloting of the project.
Story By: Kwame Lawerh
