By Kwame NYATUAME
Not too long ago, if you wanted to learn a new skill, you had to find a teacher, buy expensive textbooks, or sit in a classroom for hours. Today, all you need is a smartphone and an internet connection.
With just a few taps, you can watch a video on YouTube, join a live class on Zoom, or even take a full university course online. This is the power of Educational Technology—Edtech—and it’s changing the way we learn worldwide.
But here’s the big question: Is Ghana paying enough attention?
The world is moving, are we?
Around the world, countries are embracing Edtech to improve education. In Kenya, students are using Eneza Education, a mobile learning platform, to access lessons and quizzes through simple text messages.
In Nigeria, uLesson provides interactive video lessons to help students prepare for exams. Even in Rwanda, the government is distributing digital tablets to schools, ensuring children in remote areas don’t get left behind.
And Ghana? We have some fantastic homegrown Edtech solutions—eCampus, TechAide, Soronko Academy, and many others—but are we truly harnessing their full potential? Are our teachers, students, and parents embracing Edtech as a vital tool, or are we still stuck in the old ways of learning?
The opportunity we cannot ignore
Imagine a rural school in the Northern Region where there are no trained physics teachers. Traditionally, students in such schools would have to struggle on their own. But with Edtech, they can now access video lessons from top educators, take interactive quizzes, and even conduct virtual science experiments.
Or think about young entrepreneurs in Accra who want to sharpen their business skills but don’t have the time or money for formal education. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Khan Academy offer free and affordable courses that can help them compete on a global level.
This is not just theory. It’s happening. The challenge is whether we will embrace it fully or allow the digital divide to leave many behind.
What’s holding us back?
Despite the potential, Ghana faces some real challenges in adopting Edtech:
- Internet access & cost – Data prices remain high, and many rural areas still lack stable internet connectivity.
- Digital literacy – Not all teachers and students know how to use digital tools effectively.
- Policy & support – While the government has made some moves, we need stronger policies and investments to push Edtech forward.
The time is now!
The future of learning is digital, and Ghana cannot afford to be left behind. We must invest in internet infrastructure, train our teachers, support local Edtech startups, and change our mindset about what education looks like. This article is just the beginning of a series where we’ll explore Edtech solutions, meet the innovators shaping the industry, and discuss practical ways Ghana can lead in this space. The goal? To spark a conversation and inspire action.
So, the next time you pick up your phone, think about this: If education is at your fingertips, how can we make sure every Ghanaian—young or old—gets to use it? Let’s talk. Let’s act. The Edtech revolution is here.
Stay tuned for the next article, where we’ll dive into some exciting Ghanaian Edtech startups transforming learning across the country!
>>>Kwame is President of Ghana Edtech Alliance. He can be reached via [email protected]
