Education Minister Clarifies SHS Tablet Costs: $250 per Unit, Totaling GHS 337M for 1.3 Million Tablets

By
Ellis Ferdinand
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Education Minister Clarifies SHS Tablet Costs: $250 per Unit, Totaling GHS 337M for 1.3 Million Tablets

Ferdinand | EducationGhana | April 03 |Education Minister Clarifies SHS Tablet Costs: $250 per Unit, Totaling GHS 337M for 1.3 Million Tablets

 Dr. Adutwum, Ghana’s Education Minister, addresses misconceptions about tablet costs for Free SHS students, clarifying that each unit is priced at $250 USD. Get insights into the total expenditure for 1.3 million tablets, amounting to 337 million Ghanaian cedis.

 

Ghana Education Minister Clarifies Tablet Costs: $250 USD per Unit, Totaling 337M GHS for 1.3 Million Tablets

In a bid to provide transparency regarding the costs associated with providing tablets to Free Senior High School (SHS) students, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Ghana’s Education Minister, has clarified misconceptions surrounding the pricing of these devices. He made this clarification on Joy News File Programme hosted by Sampon Ayini over the weekend.

Let’s delve into the details shared by Dr. Adutwum regarding the unit price and total expenditure for the tablet initiative.

Clarification on Tablet Costs

Addressing concerns and speculations, Dr. Adutwum emphasized that each tablet provided to Free SHS students is priced at $250 USD, debunking misconceptions that it was priced at 250 Ghanaian cedis. This clarification aims to provide accurate information to the public and dispel any confusion regarding the actual cost of the tablets.

Total Expenditure for Tablet Initiative

Dr. Adutwum further shed light on the total expenditure associated with providing tablets to Free SHS students. The first batch of 450,000 tablets, priced at $250 USD per unit, will amount to 112 million Ghanaian cedis. Additionally, the procurement of a total of 1.3 million tablets will result in a total expenditure of 337 million Ghanaian cedis.

Ensuring Transparency and Accountability

By providing clarity on the unit price and total expenditure for the tablet initiative, Dr. Adutwum underscores the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in its educational initiatives. This transparency fosters public trust and confidence in the government’s efforts to enhance access to quality education for all Ghanaian students.

Moving Forward with Clarity

With the costs of the tablet initiative clarified, stakeholders can move forward with a clearer understanding of the financial implications and benefits associated with providing tablets to Free SHS students. Dr. Adutwum’s commitment to providing accurate information reflects the government’s dedication to ensuring the success of the Free SHS program and improving educational outcomes for Ghana’s youth.

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Phased Distribution Strategy

The distribution of the tablets will occur in three phases to ensure efficient deployment across 32 schools nationwide. Dr Adutwum outlined the phased approach, with the first batch set to reach schools in the coming week. The subsequent phases will follow closely, ensuring a smooth and systematic rollout of the tablets.

Features of the Tablets

Each student tablet is equipped with a keyboard, enabling versatile usage as a laptop or standalone tablet. Additionally, the tablets come with a power bank and a solar panel, providing a sustainable solution for charging, especially in areas with erratic power supply. These features underscore the government’s commitment to addressing technological challenges and enhancing the learning experience for students.

Integration of ICT Training

ICT Coordinators in schools have been tasked with providing comprehensive training to teachers on the effective utilization of the tablets. This training will equip educators with the necessary skills to leverage digital resources and enhance pedagogical practices. Dr Adutwum emphasized the importance of ongoing training to ensure that schools optimize the benefits of the tablet initiative.

Budget Allocation Clarification

Responding to concerns about budget allocation, Dr Adutwum clarified that the funds allocated for the tablet project are distinct from those earmarked for the Free Senior High School (SHS) program. He highlighted the government’s commitment to prioritizing both initiatives and emphasized the need to address logistical challenges separately from budgetary constraints.

On the matter of whether it was prudent for the government to spend huge amounts on free tablet distribution when the Free SHS policy was facing other pressing challenges, the Bosomtwe MP explained that the logistical challenges of the Free SHS programme are separate from budgetary constraints, clarifying that funds allocated for this tablet project under the government’s digitalization agenda cannot be diverted to address feeding challenges faced by students under the policy.

“The interesting thing about Free SHS is that you can have logistical challenges and that’s not a budget issue, so we have 1.4 million children miles away that we are feeding a day, you can have challenges where food may not have reached a certain location on time.”

 

“The idea is very simple; there are some people who will say use that in providing food for them, but no, there is a budget. There is a difference between a budget allocation and a cash flow allocation, so even if I want to, the law does not allow me to tell GETFUND that I need your money to buy food instead of the tablets you have allocated funds for in your funding formula, so there is a difference between a cash flow logistical issue and a budget issue.” He said.

Mitigating Tablet Malfunctions

Addressing potential concerns about tablet malfunctioning or mishandling, Dr Adutwum reassured stakeholders that schools with large populations would have dedicated repair centers onsite. Drawing from his experience in the US, he highlighted the students’ diligence in caring for their devices when they understand the importance of academic success linked to the tablets.

When the host of News File, Sampson Lardi Ayenini asked about the possible malfunctioning, breakdown or mishandling of the tablets by the students, the sector minister revealed that schools with a population exceeding one thousand will have dedicated repair centres on-site to address any issues promptly.

He emphasized that while gadget abuse is common when students understand that their academic success depends on the tablet, they are more diligent in using it, leading to increased carefulness.

“I will give you an example of what I did in one of my schools in the US. One interesting thing that happened when I deployed laptops at the time, we were dreading that the students would lose their laptops. We had insurance on it. It turned out in the end that after three years when we evaluated the deployment of laptops in my school in the US, 100 per cent of the students’ laptops were intact. It was rather the teachers who lost their laptops.”

 

“So you see, sometimes we underestimate the care that students give to the things that matter to them. When they know how much this matters to them they are not going to just destroy it. When they know that their homework is not going to be done if I do not take good care of this and you train them well and somebody is there to fix it for them, then there is insurance on it.”

“Things work in some very unique ways to amaze you” he added.

Conclusion

The distribution of free student tablets represents a pivotal moment in Ghana’s educational landscape, signaling a shift towards digital learning and innovation. As the government continues to invest in educational technology, stakeholders are optimistic about the transformative impact of the Smart School Project on student outcomes and national development.

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