Category: Education

Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, says the country is set to have fully-fledged operationalised open university campuses in September next year. The Minister said prospective students could take up online courses from the comfort of their homes or visit the campuses for research. Dr Adutwum disclosed this at the closing of a weeklong 2023 National Education Week held in Accra. The weeklong event provided a platform for stakeholders in the education sector to meet and discuss the challenges and opportunities in the sector. Dr Adutwum noted that the initiative was part of reforms and innovations the government was undertaking to ensure that the education sector was modernised. He said with the open university the majority of the work would be done online. He said that a full online university would enure to the benefit of society and meet the needs of contemporary education. 'The Covid-19 pandemic that hit us provided us with great lessons on virtual learning. It shows that online learning was a fruitful model of education,' he added. The Minister said the Ministry was working with a UK University, which was providing technical support on the project. He said the Ministry was also putting up virtual high schools where students could enroll for virtual classes. 'There are several high schools around the world that are virtual, they are online. We are also building virtual high schools that will serve as an opportunity for people to advance themselves while they work,' he said. Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Joe Anokye, Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA) has said that plans are far underway for Ghana to hook on to the 5G wireless data communication for mobile carriers. 'We have made sure that the spectrum required for five 5G is available, there are few policies that must be made as to exactly how spectrum will be made available. It is very complicated, because of the way the market is, we don't want to proceed and only one entity will have the capability of acquiring the 5G', he told participants at the 12th R.P Baffour memorial lectures organized by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi. His topic was 'KNUST, a history of remarkable growth in science and technology education, resilience and adaptability in the digital space' Mr Anokye in an answer to a question as to when Ghana would be connected to the 5G services however, stated that, it was important for the NCA to beef up local internet services for majority of the people to access the 5G services. 'We have to make sure Wi-Fi services at various places where people meet are provided, there is a fibre optic connection to central point to make your 5G come', he stated. He currently said all internet traffic in Ghana pass through the submarine cable landing, with 5.9 terabytes in total, but were very complicated. 'Every now and then a submarine cable will go down and when it does, it takes time. You have to send a ship in. So, one of the things NCA is doing is to license additional submarine providers to help address these anomalies,' he said. Touching on the KNUST technology infrastructure and communication evolution as well as the University in the liberalization era, he commended the institution for its resolve in advancing and catching up in technology advancement. He pointed out that back in the early 1990's before the era of liberalization, the KNUST faced numerous challenges in communication, and academically, struggle with outdated teaching materials, among others. 'The journey of KNUST over the past seven decades stands a testament to what vision, dedication, resilience, and corroborative spirit can achieve. From its foundational years to alumni and success stories, the University had remained a beacon of knowledge in Ghana's educational landscape,' he stated. Mr Anokye said the age dominated by disruptive technologies, the role of educational institutions, particularly those with the legacy was increasingly critical. According to him, Technology was reshaping the way people thought, worked, and created, adding that, while these changes had brought opportunities, they also presented formidable challenges. Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr. Emmanuel Kwame Obeng, a Pharmaceutical Executive and Regulations Professional, has called on the government and other stakeholders to ensure an enhancement in digital technology education in schools if the country wants to remain competitive in the global economy. Dr. Obeng, who is also a member of the Tema Secondary School Old Students Association (TOSA) 1973-year group, said this during the 62nd Speech and Prize giving day celebration of the school on the theme: 'Enhancing Digital Technology Education in Ghana for Competitive Advantage.' He said that technology had transformed the way the world works, how people communicate and learn, how they socialise, how politics is conducted, how homes are built, and our engagement with the universe; therefore, students must be equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in this ever-evolving landscape. He explained digital technology as the devices, systems, and resources used in creating, storing, and managing information and data, adding that the use of inf ormation and communication technology (ICT) for socio-economic transformation, investments, and the provision of appropriate legal and institutional frameworks for easy access, usage, affordability, and participation have been implemented in all sectors. 'Digitalization has become the buzzword in policy cycles in policy circles, as it is seen as the vehicle that drives change in terms of service delivery and participatory governments,' he noted. Dr. Obeng again disclosed that digital technologies could liberate students and teachers from the confines of the traditional classroom and enable students and teachers to learn and teach anytime and anywhere. He further explained that with the appropriate investments in servers and learning management systems in schools, teachers can create short videos and brief podcasts and provide access to online libraries for students to use on their mobile phones. He said that digital technology education would equip students with essential technical skills needed to thrive in the modern workforce, fostering a culture of creativity and innovation while enabling students to tailor the learning experience to their unique peace and style. He added that for the enhancement and aggressive digital technology education that will permeate seamlessly throughout the students experience, targeted and sustained investments must be made in computer hardware, software, programming, digital communication, multimedia, networks, and cybersecurity for teachers and students. 'Students who cannot afford smart phones and tablets must be assisted through public or private partnerships to acquire these devices to ensure that no student is left behind in this digital revolution,' he said. He stated again that to recognise the vital role of integrating new technologies into learning delivery, the Ghana Education Service (GES) must be discouraged from practices such as prohibiting students from bringing smartphones to school because such practices create enormous disadvantages for junior high (JHS) a nd senior high school (SHS) students. Dr. Obeng concluded that to enhance digital technology education in Ghana, the governments and other stakeholders needed to invest in the schools and teachers, provide ongoing training and support, and encourage students to pursue careers in this dynamic field. He said such initiatives would ensure that Ghana remained at the forefront of the digital revolution and that students were equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the 21st century. He added that it was imperative for decision-makers at the Ministry of Education to champion the digital technology revolution in education, abandon policies that are roadblocks to modern education for the youths and embrace and lead the transformative changes that would leave a lasting and positive legacy for all. Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Strato Angsoteng Bayitaa, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidate of the Clement Kubindiwo Tedem University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS) in the Upper East Region, has received the prestigious Google PhD Fellowship Award. The award was to enable him to conduct research into machines, using multi-learning techniques for tabular data under the supervision of Professor Edward Yellakour Baagyere and Dr Moses Apamibila Agebure, both Lecturers of the University, and a mentor from Google. The yet-to-be conducted research, by Mr Bayitaa, who is in the Department of Computer Science at the School of Computing and Information Sciences of the University, could impact on the machine-learning ecosystem, and the general research community. The award, according to a statement from the Public Affairs Directorate of the University, copied to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, said 'This award is a significant achievement not just for Mr Bayitaa, but also for CKT-UTAS.' The statement noted that CKT-UTA S was one of only three African Universities recognized in the Machine Learning category along with other globally renowned institutions such as the Stanford University, Harvard University, and the University of California-Berkeley. 'This award is a testament to his exceptional talent and the quality of research being conducted at CKT-UTAS. 'This also highlights the University's commitment to pushing the boundaries of research and innovation, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of technological advancements,' the statement said. It indicated that 'CKT-UTAS, nestled in the Upper East Region of Ghana, stands proudly as an institution fostering academic excellence in the domain of Computing and Information Sciences. 'The institution's recognition by the Google PhD Fellowship for its work in Machine Learning demonstrates its ability to nurture and support exceptional talent in the field of emerging technologies,' the statement added. The University said the award was a well-deserved recognition of Mr B ayitaa's accomplishments and would help to support his continuous work in the field, and further serve as inspiration not only to the academic community at CKT-UTAS, but also to aspiring researchers in Africa and around the world. 'The future undoubtedly holds promise for Mr Bayitaa, CKT-UTAS and the wider academic community as they continue to collaborate, innovate and inspire in Machine Learning and beyond,' the statement said. Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr. Eric Nkansah, Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has urged university graduates to take keen interest in the ongoing technological transformation, which was controlling the world. Technology, according to him, had become a tool which was transforming the way people live, work, and learn and it was redefining the skills and knowledge needed in the modern workforce. It had, therefore, become very important for every university student and graduate to show keen interest and be very conversant with their use and application so as to be able to compete well in the world of work. Dr. Nkansah was addressing graduands of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) at the 57th congregation of the university in Kumasi at the weekend. 'To remain competitive and thrive in this digital age, you must upskill with the requisite digital literacy skills, critical thinking abilities, and adaptability to excel in an ever-changing, t echnology-driven world,' he stressed . He indicated that what would set them apart from their peers in the journey ahead was the development of soft skills they had gained and encouraged them to invest in the acquisition of soft skills in relation to technological transformation. 'While your academic achievements have laid a solid foundation, your soft skills will be the compass guiding your success,' he stated. Dr. Nkansah told the graduands that technical expertise alone was not enough in the dynamic landscape they were entering, rather, their ability to communicate effectively, collaborate seamlessly, and adapt to change would be their greatest asset. These, he said, were the soft skills that would transform their knowledge into impact. Source: Ghana News Agency