Claim: Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, has claimed that Ghana is the only country in Africa that provides laptops and tablets to teachers and students in senior high schools.
Verdict: False. DUBAWA’s checks reveal that countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, Botswana, and South Africa are all implementing such initiatives.
Full Text
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, has asserted that Ghana is the only country implementing a policy that provides free tablets to senior high school students and laptops to teachers from primary to secondary levels. This statement was made during his tour of the Bono Region on October 15.
He stated, “If we had heeded the advice of former President John Mahama, we wouldn’t have achieved free senior high school education. In 2016, schools struggled to afford chalk, but now we are purchasing and distributing tablets to all senior high school students. We have also facilitated the acquisition of laptops for all teachers, from primary through secondary levels, under the One Teacher, One Laptop policy. Ghana stands as the only African country to undertake such initiatives.”
This assertion can be referenced in the video published by Channel One TV from 50 minutes: 12 seconds to 50 minutes: 51 seconds on October 15, 2024. While the policy is commendable, the question arises: is Ghana indeed the first and only country to implement such measures?
Since this claim was made during a campaign to garner votes and combat the spread of misinformation, DUBAWA has decided to investigate further.
Verification
Ghana’s One-Teacher Laptop Policy
The One Teacher, One Laptop initiative was officially launched in August 2021. Its main goal is to equip teachers with the necessary digital tools to aid in lesson planning, teaching, and assessment and help them adapt to modern teaching practices. By incorporating technology, the programme seeks to improve the overall quality of teaching and learning in Ghana. It focuses on teachers at all levels, from basic to senior high school.
Is Ghana the only country implementing this policy?
No, the claim made by the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party is inaccurate. DUBAWA researched various African countries and found evidence that other nations are implementing similar policies.
For instance, in Kenya, the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) focuses on providing laptops to teachers in basic schools but not to those in secondary schools. In contrast, Rwanda has a more comprehensive approach, offering laptops to all primary and secondary teachers.
The Rwandan government launched the Smart Classroom Project and the One Laptop per Teacher initiative in 2016 to advance digital education. Under this policy, all teachers received laptops through a three-year loan scheme.
One Student, One Tablet
The One Student, One Tablet initiative was introduced by the Ministry of Education in 2023 to complement the One Teacher, One Laptop policy. The aim is to integrate technology more deeply into Ghana’s education system, providing students with the tools they need to embrace digital learning. The tablets are expected to help students access textbooks, video lessons, and interactive content, fostering a more engaging and efficient learning process. The initiative primarily targets senior high school students nationwide, particularly public school students. Every student can access a tablet device to support their studies.
Is Ghana the only country implementing this policy?
No, South Africa and Botswana, among other countries, are also implementing such policies.
In Botswana, for instance, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development announced the distribution of laptops to students and teachers in senior high schools in 2019. This can also be seen on the ministry’s Facebook page.
Also, in South Africa, the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced such an initiative when he delivered his State of the Nation address in 2019. This can be found on page 25 of the address.
“Over the next six years, we will provide every school child in South Africa with digital workbooks and textbooks on a tablet device. We will start with those schools that have been historically most disadvantaged and are located in the poorest communities, including multigame, multiphase, farm, and rural schools,” the president said.
News sites in South Africa have also published stories about the initiatives, affirming that South Africa is also spearheading such an initiative.
Conclusion
The claim that Ghana is the only country in Africa to provide laptops to teachers and tablets to students in Senior High Schools is false.