Laptops to replace textbooks in SHS …distribution starts this year

Government has announced that all Senior High School students currently in their first and second years are to benefit from a free laptop embedded with the required text books in soft copies and the nationwide distribution starts this year.

By this new policy, the laptops would replace the hardcopy text books.

They do not only contain soft copies of the text books but also contain past examination questions and lesson notes.

Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia made this known over the weekend in his address at the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the Hohoe EP Senior High School (HEPSS) in the Volta Region.

Dr. Bawumia in the address noted: “The Minister for Education has also assured me that this year; we would start the replacement of textbooks with laptops which have textbooks imbedded in Senior High Schools.

“So you would have a laptop which would have all the past questions embedded with past questions, lesson plans and all of that to help the teachers and the students.”

He continued: “the final year students, unfortunately, you may not be a part of it because you are leaving in September but the second years and first years, we would distribute these laptops in badges and you would be able to benefit because we want to equalize access across the country. Everybody must have access.

“And we would save a lot of money by the way from the physical textbooks that we are printing. The Minister for Education assures me that we would be able to start this process before the end of this year”, Dr. Bawumia noted.

Meanwhile, Citinewsroom reports that the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, has welcomed news by the government to phase out textbooks with laptops in Senior High Schools across the country albeit with some scepticism.

It quoted Mr. Carbonu to have noted: “I am for the use of IT to supplement teaching and learning activities and I know very well that if we want to break the glass ceiling that opens the door for the future, Ghana will have to take IT very seriously at every level. If schools have connectivity and the connectivity is not sustainable, it presents a challenge, however, the way to go into the future is the use of ICT so if we can provide connectivity to schools, then we can seriously start the journey of information technology teaching and learning”.

“Looking at recent happenings, I foresee some challenges in the government being able to supply laptops to every student, however, we still have to keep hope alive, and we don’t have a choice.”

The news has been received by the public with mixed feelings.

While some say it is a laudable initiative, others express doubts if Government can fund the cost of implementation.