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Tag: Laptops

  • Over 200 teachers in Okaikwei North receive laptops from GES

    Over 200 teachers in Okaikwei North receive laptops from GES

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) has distributed laptops to 233 teachers and some non-teaching staff in the Okaikwei North Municipality, Greater Accra Region.

    This initiative is part of the government’s One Teacher, One Laptop programme, aimed at enhancing the educational system through improved access to technology.

    The distribution event took place at the Municipal Education Directorate in Achimota. Recipients underwent validation processes, including the presentation of their Ghana Cards, before receiving their laptops and accompanying bags.

    Teachers expressed their gratitude towards the government and their union leaders for the timely rollout of the programme.

    One teacher remarked, “The trend in education is driven purely by ICT, and devices such as computer laptops come in handy to enhance the teacher’s efforts.”

    This programme has also benefited pre-tertiary teachers in all five northern regions of Ghana, including Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East, and Upper West. A mop-up exercise is currently underway to ensure primary school teachers, teachers on study leave, and GES office staff in these regions receive their laptops.

    Teaching and non-teaching staff who have not yet received their laptops can generate a collection code by dialing 790555# and contacting their ICT Coordinators for assistance. A statement from the manufacturing firm in Accra urged all remaining beneficiaries to use this shortcode and reach out to their respective ICT Coordinators.

    According to the company, nearly 96% of eligible GES staff have already received their laptops. Efforts are being intensified to ensure all remaining beneficiaries receive their devices, thus concluding the nationwide distribution. The shortcode has been established to facilitate this final phase.

    Teachers in the Ashanti, Greater Accra, North East, Upper West, Upper East, Northern, and Savannah Regions can activate their short code and contact their ICT Coordinators from Friday, July 26th, to collect their laptops. Teachers and non-teaching staff in the remaining 10 regions will follow the same process starting Wednesday, July 30th, 2024.

    The One Teacher, One Laptop programme, launched in September 2021, aims to improve teaching and learning outcomes in pre-tertiary educational institutions nationwide. Under the programme, every public school teacher from kindergarten to senior high school is to receive a laptop to aid in lesson preparation, research, and learning.

    The government covers 70% of the laptop cost, with teachers contributing the remaining 30% through their unions. These laptops also enable teachers to access digital online training through National Teaching Council-approved modules, ensuring that teaching aligns with National Teachers Standards across the country.

  • Teachers in Okaikwei North receives 233 laptops from GES

    Teachers in Okaikwei North receives 233 laptops from GES

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) has allocated laptops to 233 teachers and select non-teaching personnel in the Okaikwei North Municipality within the Greater Accra Region.

    This laptop distribution is part of the government’s One Teacher, One Laptop initiative.

    The distribution event was held at the Municipal Education Directorate in Achimota, where recipients completed validation steps, including presenting their Ghana Cards, before receiving their laptops and bags.

    Teachers conveyed their appreciation to both the government and their union leaders for the prompt rollout of the program.

    One teacher noted, “The trend in education is driven purely by ICT, and devices such as computer laptops come in handy to enhance the teacher’s efforts.”

    Recent reports indicate that pre-tertiary teachers across all five Northern regions of the country have also benefited from the program.

    The regions covered are Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East, and Upper West.

    A mop-up operation is currently in progress to ensure that primary school teachers, those on study leave, and GES office staff in these areas obtain their laptops.

    Staff members, both teaching and non-teaching, who have yet to receive their laptops can create a collection code by dialing 790555# and reaching out to their ICT Coordinators for support.

    In a statement released on Wednesday, the manufacturing company based in Accra urged all remaining beneficiaries to use the provided shortcode and contact their ICT Coordinators.

    The company reported that almost 96 percent of eligible GES staff have already received their laptops. They are now focusing on completing the distribution to ensure all remaining beneficiaries get theirs, marking the end of the nationwide rollout. The shortcode has been introduced to streamline this final phase of distribution.

    Teachers in the Ashanti, Greater Accra, North East, Upper West, Upper East, Northern, and Savannah Regions can activate their shortcode and reach out to their ICT Coordinators starting Friday, July 26, to collect their laptops.

    Teachers and non-teaching staff in the remaining 10 regions will follow the same process starting Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

    The One Teacher, One Laptop programme, launched in September 2021, aims to improve teaching and learning outcomes in pre-tertiary educational institutions nationwide.

    Under the programme, every public school teacher from kindergarten to senior high school is to receive a laptop to aid in lesson preparation, research, and learning.

    The government covers 70 per cent of the laptop cost, with teachers contributing the remaining 30 per cent through their unions.

    These laptops also enable teachers to access digital online training through National Teaching Council-approved modules, ensuring that teaching aligns with National Teachers Standards across the country.

  • 5 laptops cannot be found but it won’t affect election success – Jean Mensa

    5 laptops cannot be found but it won’t affect election success – Jean Mensa

    Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), has acknowledged the theft of five laptops from the Commission’s offices.

    She reassured that this incident does not affect the voter registration or election process.

    Ms. Mensa made these remarks during her appearance in Parliament on Friday, July 19, 2024.

    She stressed that the stolen laptops do not compromise the integrity or functionality of the voter registration system.

    “The missing laptops have no bearing on the registration or election,” Jean Mensa stated.

    She further clarified that the stolen laptops need unique keys for activation, making them harmless and non-threatening on their own.

    “There are certain security processes that a BVD or a BVR has to go through to be connected to our systems. And so on its own, it cannot be used to register anybody,” she added.

    She emphasized the EC’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the electoral process’s security and integrity.

    “We have taken steps to beef up our security in those places to ensure such thefts will not happen again.”

    The Chairperson also promised that the EC will uphold transparency throughout the December elections.

    “From the registration to the declaration, our processes are embedded with one key ingredient, and that is transparency, transparency, transparency. As such we will continue to operate in the spirit of transparency, fairness and integrity as embedded in our motto,” she assured.

    She stressed that every essential measure is being enacted to maintain the integrity of the election process.

  • Provide a detailed plan of how tablets will be distributed to SHSs – Minority to Education Ministry

    Provide a detailed plan of how tablets will be distributed to SHSs – Minority to Education Ministry

    The Minority in Parliament (MP) has called on the Ministry of Education to provide a detailed plan for the distribution of tablets to senior high schools under the Ghana Smart Schools Project (GSSP).

    This request aims to ensure thorough monitoring of the distribution process to prevent any schools or students from being excluded.

    Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, Deputy Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, disclosed this during a field visit to K A Technologies Ltd’s factory and offices in Accra.

    The company manufactures the Students’ Mate Tablets distributed by the government as part of the One Student – One Tablet initiative to promote digitalized teaching and learning.

    The parliamentary delegation, led by Chairman Kwabena Amankwah Asiamah, toured the company’s facilities and received briefings on its operations from management.

    The company’s General Manager, Lawrence Hornuvo, reiterated their commitment to delivering high-quality products and services to the government.

    “We pride ourselves in delivering robust, quality products and services in a timely manner and so far, this has not been compromised,” he told the committee.

    Chairman Asiamah praised the company’s efforts and urged them to ensure every student has access to a tablet.

    “Actually, coming here has demystified our thoughts on how these Tablets were going to get to the students; we have the full understanding of what is on the tablet, its usage and the distribution pattern, quantities to be distributed’.

    “We have also learnt that government is not paying for everything before they produce, they are ahead of government and we will like to encourage government to quicken up payments to them to fast-track the process of making sure all students in the country have their tablets,” he added.

    Dr. Clement Abas Apaak expressed satisfaction with the visit’s outcome, emphasizing the importance of inclusive distribution in the project.

    “So far what we have seen is reassuring. We got a detailed briefing about the tablets, its functionality, the capacity, and we’ve been taken to the unit where the tablets are being assembled. What is also exciting is that this is also a local company which also means that the jobs to be created are going to benefit Ghanaians and the monies being paid as well as the tablets are all going to benefit Ghanaians.

    “We have been told that the distribution will be done in phases, we want a full rollout and that is what we are looking for,” he added.

    The Members of Parliament were accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Education, the TVET Commission, and the Free SHS Secretariat.

    The Ghana Smart Schools Project, launched by President Akufo-Addo, aims to transform existing schools into smart schools by providing technology-assisted devices to teachers and students to enhance teaching, learning, and research.

    “We pride ourselves in delivering robust, quality products and services in a timely manner and so far, this has not been compromised,” he told the committee.

    “Actually, coming here has demystified our thoughts on how these Tablets were going to get to the students; we have the full understanding of what is on the tablet, its usage and the distribution pattern, quantities to be distributed’, he said.

    “We have also learnt that government is not paying for everything before they produce, they are ahead of government and we will like to encourage government to quicken up payments to them to fast-track the process of making sure all students in the country have their tablets,” he added.

  • Education Ministry blasts Mahama after video of him promising students laptops surfaces

    Education Ministry blasts Mahama after video of him promising students laptops surfaces

    Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has strongly criticised the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, for accusing the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) of attempting to buy the votes of Senior High School (SHS) students with promises of free tablets.

    In a Twitter post, Mr. Ntim Fordjour argued that former President Mahama’s criticisms are hypocritical, pointing out a past instance where Mahama himself made a similar promise.

    Ntim Fordjour highlighted a campaign event during the 2016 general elections where Mahama pledged the same initiative to students.

    He emphasised that Mahama has no moral authority to condemn the NPP when he himself had previously made such promises.

    Sharing a video clip of Mahama’s previous pledge, Ntim Fordjour stressed that Mahama’s recent remarks regarding the ‘free tablet initiative’ only reflect his desperation.

    “How could desperate hunger for power cause one to embarrass himself this way? Same Mahama then and now on 1 Student 1 tablet.

    He promised it in 2016 and now condemns same in 2024??” he posted together with the video on Twitter on Friday, April 6, 2024,

    What Mahama said about distributing tablets to SHS students

    Mahama’s promise, which he made in September 2016, was that textbooks for the various core subjects will be converted into the software which will be put on tablets and distributed to Junior High and Senior High School students.

    “Students will receive tablets that have all their core subjects on the tablet. If the pilot is successful, the programme shall be expanded,” he is quoted to have said in a report by peaceonline.com

    Mahama’s recent comments about NPP’s promise to give students laptops:

    During a special public lecture at Wisconsin International University College in Accra, John Mahama expressed his concerns, pointing out the government’s neglect of crucial ongoing educational projects in favor of prioritizing tablet distribution.

    The former president underscored the significance of allocating state resources to address more pressing needs within the education sector.

    “You bring a new curriculum, the children have [had] no textbooks in basic schools for the last four years, and you think that giving pre-tertiary students tablets is more important. Of course, everybody knows the political expediency,” he said in a report by citinewsroom.com.

    Mahama also expressed skepticism regarding the timing of the tablet distribution, suggesting it is an attempt to sway the votes of pre-tertiary students who will soon be eligible to vote.

    “The pre-tertiary students are going to register in May because some of them will be turning 18 years and above; some are 18 already, and they are going to be the ones voting. So, this is a gift to entice them to vote for the current government,” he stated.

    Mahama also condemned the allocation of GH¢1.3 billion for providing laptops to pre-tertiary students, arguing that other pressing issues within the educational system require attention.

    “Otherwise, if you are using GH¢1.3 billion to give pre-tertiary students laptops, our priority would have been different. Other things are begging for funding in our educational system than those laptops. But it is a bribe for them to vote for this government,” he reiterated.

  • You can’t give students tablets and give us laptops – Teacher blasts govt

    You can’t give students tablets and give us laptops – Teacher blasts govt

    Amidst ongoing discussions surrounding educational initiatives in Ghana, members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) have voiced their discontent, labeling government priorities as misdirected.

    Speaking to the media, a representative of the association highlighted concerns over recent announcements regarding the distribution of tablets to students.

    On Monday, March 25, 2024, the government launched the Ghana Smart School Project, aimed at providing 1.3 million tablets to students in public Senior High Schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

    However, speaking to the media, the spokesperson of the group indicated that while providing students with tablets might seem beneficial, the move neglects the critical needs of tutors.

    According to her it is an insult to teachers for government prioritize tablets for students when many educators themselves lack essential tools like laptops.

    She that if the government truly had its priorities in order, it would address the pressing needs within the education sector.

    She quizzed why government will provide tablets to schools when some schools lack basic amenities such as reliable electricity.

    Additionally, promises of Wi-Fi access made by the government have yet to materialize, leaving uncertainties regarding how students would utilize internet-enabled devices.

  • More than 100,000 teachers yet to receive laptops they paid for since 2021 – GNAT

    More than 100,000 teachers yet to receive laptops they paid for since 2021 – GNAT

    As the government rolls out the Ghana Smart School Project to distribute 1.3 million tablets to public Senior High School and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students, teacher unions are highlighting the government’s failure to fulfill its promises under the 1 Teacher 1 Laptop project.

    During an appearance on JoyNews’ PM Express, President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers, Rev. Isaac Owusu, explained that the ongoing strike by public school teachers, which started last Wednesday, is a result of over 100,000 teachers not receiving the laptops they were promised and have been deducted for since 2021.

    Rev. Isaac Owusu responded to criticism of the strike by the CEO of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Ben Arthur, stating, “Engineer [Fair Wages CEO] has been attacking us at every opportunity since Wednesday when we declared the strike.”

    “When it comes to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the unions have raised five solid issues, and each of the issues is very important and dear to the teacher we’re representing. Regarding the issue concerning the laptop, the contract says that within 12 calendar months; that is from January 2021 to December 2021, the supplier should have finished the distribution and we are in 2024. More than 100,000 teachers have not received the laptop, and what is the engineer talking about?” he fumed.

    As of December 2021, the Ghana Education Service (GES) reported that approximately 80% of the 62,000 laptops allocated for teachers in Senior High Schools had been distributed in the first phase of the project.

    President Akufo-Addo, speaking at the launch of the Ghana Smart Schools Project aimed at providing smart tablets for SHS students, stated that the Ministry of Education had already distributed 200,000 laptops to teachers in pre-tertiary institutions nationwide.

    On March 20, the three major teacher unions – the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Ghana National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT-GH) – declared a strike due to unsatisfactory conditions of service. They cited the government’s failure to renew their collective agreement, which expired in 2023, among other concerns.

    Despite efforts to engage the government in negotiations, the unions claimed that the government had not shown willingness to address their grievances, leading them to resort to industrial action.

    The CEO of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) criticized the unions for declaring the strike without following due process and for not adhering to an order by the National Labour Commission to call off the strike. He also expressed disappointment that the unions did not attend a meeting called by the FWSC and the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.

    “There are procedures, there are provisions as to what must happen before you can really embark on a strike. You failed to notify the employer, Fair Wages was not in the know, and what was statutory of you to notify the National Labour Commission was also not done, and then all of a sudden we’re ambushed.”

    The President of GNAT affirmed to host Evans Mensah that teachers would remain on strike until all their demands are met, regardless of any criticism directed at them. This statement came in response to remarks made by the CEO of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission during the show regarding their ongoing strike.

    “The collective agreement, before the 2020 one that we signed, we were having 2009 collective agreement and we used it from 2009 to the year 2020. I want Engineer [FWSC CEO] to understand that, yes, you’re under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, but you’re not the employer of the teacher. The law says that if we want to embark on industrial action we should notify the employer. Engineer, are you the Director-General for GES? Evans, we wrote two separate letters on the 29th of February and in those letters, the NLC was duly notified.”

    “The teachers of today are not the teachers of yesterday. The teachers of today are demanding results from leadership, and that’s what we are doing. We don’t have any ill motives and nobody is behind us,” he noted, in response to Mr Ben Arthur’s query to know what their true motivation for the strike is.

    He mentioned that they have a meeting scheduled with the National Labour Commission on Tuesday, March 26, to address the same issues.

  • Gov’t to use GHC1.5bn meant for community development to buy laptops

    Gov’t to use GHC1.5bn meant for community development to buy laptops

    The Member of Parliament for Asunafo South, Eric Opoku, has accused the government of redirecting an amount of GH¢750 million in 2023 from the District Assemblies Common Fund.

    The funds were allegedly earmarked for the purchase of laptops to be distributed to Senior High School (SHS) students.

    The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, recently announced the government’s intention to distribute over 1.4 million tablets to students at Wesley Girls Senior High School under the free SHS policy.

    The goal is to enhance the teaching and learning experience within the school within the next two months.

    During an interview with Citi News, Eric Opoku expressed concern that this diversion of funds would impede development at the district level. He further alleged that the government plans to divert an additional GH¢750 million for the same purpose.

    He stated, “They [the government] took GH¢750 million from the Common Fund meant for the development of the assemblies and that is why most of the assemblies are not doing anything at all.

    “And this year, they intend to add another GH¢750 million so that they will have GH¢1.5 billion for the purchase of those laptops.”

  • Govt used GHS1.5bn from DACF to acquire laptops for SHS students – Eric Opoku

    Govt used GHS1.5bn from DACF to acquire laptops for SHS students – Eric Opoku

    The Member of Parliament for Asunafo South, Eric Opoku, has accused the government of redirecting an amount of GH¢750 million in 2023 from the District Assemblies Common Fund.

    The funds were allegedly earmarked for the purchase of laptops to be distributed to Senior High School (SHS) students.

    The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, recently announced the government’s intention to distribute over 1.4 million tablets to students at Wesley Girls Senior High School under the free SHS policy.

    The goal is to enhance the teaching and learning experience within the school within the next two months.

    During an interview with Citi News, Eric Opoku expressed concern that this diversion of funds would impede development at the district level. He further alleged that the government plans to divert an additional GH¢750 million for the same purpose.

    He stated, “They [the government] took GH¢750 million from the Common Fund meant for the development of the assemblies and that is why most of the assemblies are not doing anything at all.

    “And this year, they intend to add another GH¢750 million so that they will have GH¢1.5 billion for the purchase of those laptops.”

  • Govt to replace textbooks with laptops in SHSs by end of the year

    Govt to replace textbooks with laptops in SHSs by end of the year

    The Ministry of Education, under the direction of the government, has unveiled a plan to introduce laptops as a replacement for traditional textbooks in Senior High Schools nationwide.

    This initiative, announced by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during the 60th Anniversary celebration of Hohoe Evangelical Presbyterian Senior High School, aims to enhance teaching and learning by equipping students with digital resources.

    According to Dr. Bawumia, the laptops will come preloaded with textbooks and other relevant educational materials, ensuring that students have access to a comprehensive range of resources during their lessons.

    The implementation of this program is scheduled to take place before the end of 2023.

    “If this country must move forward in the right direction, we must invest in education which is the only platform for preparing nation builders for tomorrow.

    “The Minister for Education has also assured me that this year, we’ll start the replacement textbooks with laptops that have textbooks embedded in Senior high Schools,” he said on Saturday.

    This new initiative comes after the government launched the One-teacher One-laptop project on Friday, September 3, 2021.

    The programme was meant to give Senior High School teachers modern materials to facilitate teaching and learning and as of December 11, 2021, Ghana Education Service reported that 80% of laptops meant for teachers had been distributed.