NDC MP for Ajumako Enyan-Essiam, Cassiel Ato Forson, has questioned the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia about his plan to provide all SHS students with free tablets. He wants to know how he’s going to fund especially when some public basic schools lack tables and chairs.
Government is struggling to pay the country’s debt to the point that it has introduced a debt exchange programme. The country is currently in the process of securing a bailout of $3 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Mr. Ato Forson is therefore unsure how government will fund projects like these which he believes have in the past contributed to the country’s financial challenges.
Dr. Ato Forson, in a tweet that was reposted by former president John Dramani Mahama, said “Mr. Bawumia your frivolous promises are largely responsible for Gh’s bankruptcy! Basic schs in the North East Region don’t have tables & chairs yet you are promising 1 student 1 tablet! How will you fund this? Borrow more ? Where lies your priorities Mr. Veep??”
On Tuesday, January 17, Dr. Bawumia spoke at the annual New Year School at the University of Ghana, Legon, where he announced the one student one tablet policy.
He said the initiative in public senior high schools is part of the government’s digitalization agenda. According him, the tablets will be embedded with textbooks and sample tests.
“That’s a very game-changing development. We will have past questions preloaded on these tablets that will be distributed,” the Vice President noted.
Government has plans to provide free internet in both second cycle and tertiary institutions to improve teaching and learning. In fact, some tertiary schools in particular already enjoy free internet.
Source – Tru News Report
