Private tertiary institutions in the country have appealed to government for support in the acquisition of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) architecture including supply of data and network connectivity to enable teaching and learning.
Professor Kwame Boasiako Omane-Antwi, Chairman of the Governing Council of Accra Business School, who made the appeal on behalf of all the institutions, said, the infrastructure was necessary to help the schools provide digital teaching and learning in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak and its attendant changes in education delivery
He explained that, this would further strengthen private universities to be able to play a pivotal role in providing access to tertiary education for the free Senior High School (SHS) graduates as well as the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEM(M)) educational agenda of forward looking countries today.
Speaking at the school’s 11th Congregation in Accra on Saturday, Prof. Omane-Antwi stated that the pandemic had changed the delivery of education and it was imperative Ghana readies itself for the new approach.
The event saw 227 graduands conferred with degrees and awarded diplomas.
He, therefore, called on government and providers of educational services to invest in resources and skill for the development and delivery of digital learning.
“Following this pandemic, education is never going to be the same again. The mobilisation and participation of all stakeholders are needed to shape the future of education through resource allocation, inclusive dialogue and decision-making,” Prof. Omane-Antwi stated.
This, he said, would require strong digital infrastructure, the expansion of broadband connectivity and frequent power supply.
The adoption and the implementation of government policies and programmes designed for future-oriented education and adequate trained personnel to manage available systems, he noted, were also critical.
Additionally, the availability of adequate funds, he explained, would ensure an ease in fostering successful digital learning and its implementation in a post-COVID-19 world.
As key stakeholders needed to push the agenda of digital learning in a post-COVID-19 era, he urged the graduands to contribute their efforts in promoting digital learning.
“You have experienced both the disruptions and dynamism of COVID-19 on your academic journey. As you go out there as policy-makers, educational entrepreneurs, or in whatever capacity you may find yourselves in the public space, remember that your country needs you as history is being written with great speed.
This urgency can be a wellspring of hope as we are faced with choices and decisions that will define the future of education; and for that future to be realised, we need boldness of thought and courageous action now,” he added.
BY TIMES REPORTERS
