Education Minister Exposes Misuse of Government Learning Tablets in Senior High Schools. He said...

 

Education Minister Exposes Misuse of Government Learning Tablets in Senior High Schools. He said...

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has disclosed that some Senior High School students are diverting government-issued tablets from their academic purpose to access pornographic content. 

The revelation has sparked widespread concern over the effectiveness of digital learning controls in schools and the moral implications of unchecked access to technology.

Addressing Parliament of Ghana, the minister explained that the tablets were supplied under the Free SHS programme to strengthen digital education by giving students direct access to curriculum-based learning materials. 

However, he revealed that many of the devices were distributed without adequate customisation and security restrictions, creating loopholes that have allowed students to misuse them for non-academic and inappropriate activities.

Mr. Iddrisu stated that the national rollout of the tablets covers about 1.3 million units, out of which approximately 980,000 have already been delivered to schools across the country. He noted that the project forms part of a contract he inherited, valued at about 337 million US dollars, with funding support from GETFund to ensure nationwide distribution.

The Education Minister admitted that he had been formally alerted to the inappropriate use of the devices and assured the House that government is treating the issue with the seriousness it deserves. 

He announced that strict limitations will be placed on the tablets to prevent access to non-educational content. According to him, the devices must be used strictly for learning, in line with the objectives for which they were procured.

He further underscored the critical role of digital tools in modern education, stressing that the tablets were designed to enhance curriculum delivery and prepare students for a highly competitive global environment. 

Mr. Iddrisu therefore called for greater national commitment to digital education, improved monitoring systems, and responsible use of technology in schools to ensure that the significant public investment in the tablets yields the intended academic benefits.