NCPTA, Celltel launch $100m digital learning project for SHSs

A $ 100 million digital learning project for Senior High Schools in the country has been launched at Awudome Secondary School (AWUSCO) to facilitate quality teaching and learning in the country, to bridge the learning gap between rural and urban schools.

The project is the initiative of the National Council of Parent-Teacher Association (NCPTA) in collaboration with Celltel Networks, would make available digital tools including android phones, tablets and laptops for parents to purchase for their wards with flexible payment terms of one year to three years, while Celltel Network would provide internet connectivity to the schools.

The one hundred million project is the cost of the tablets, laptops and android phones, which would be paid by parents on flexible terms between one and three years, and five years payment period for teachers.

This would allow students to benefit from the digital learning project as their parents would pay installment but the internet provider would connect the schools without any cost to the (NCPTA).

Speaking at the national launch of the project at Awudome-Tsitoin in the Ho West District of the Volta Region, the President of the NCPTA, Mr Christian Aikins Atsu, said the project formed part of the Association’s collaboration with the government to promote quality teaching and learning through the advancement of digital systems to stimulate studies in Senior High Schools (SHS) in the country.

Mr Atsu said NCPTA would partner with the government to harness, invest in energies and resources to create a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning, and character development while safeguarding the welfare of students, provide digital resources and tools to enrich learning experience.

According to him, the role of NCPTA could not be undermined in the promotion of quality and reliable education, and commended the government for identifying the important role that parents played in the provision of quality education, which had necessitated the national launch of the project.

The Director of Celltel Networks, Dr Prince Kofi Kludjeson, said his outfit was committed to support the Association to bridge the gap between rural and urban communities in getting access to digital tools and the internet in schools and communities to promote quality teaching and learning.

Mr Kludjeson announced that the agenda to equip students and provide internet in schools and communities was to transform Ghana to a digitalised country, which he said technology was the only tool that could be used to ensure rapid transformation of the economy.

He continued that ‘’we would provide internet in schools and communities across the country, to improve on quality teaching and learning , and I also urge the church to start educating its members in information communication technology (ICT) to enable them to become abreast of the rapidly changing world of technology.

Mr Kludjeson said the provision of internet in remote areas, would not only encourage effective teaching and learning but also promote tourism, and attract investors into the country.

The Headmaster of AWUSCO, Mr Courage Meteku expressed joy over the digitalised learning project, which he said the school had already been connected to the internet that made it possible for students and teachers to start experiencing new life, stressing that the project would definitely improve on learning and promote the existing envious academic performance of the school.