The Passport To Learn Anywhere Irrespective Of Your Domicile
Education in the pre-colonial era was mainly informal, knowledge was gained orally until education was introduced in the 16th century after the Europeans arrived on the gold coast. However, not everyone was allowed to go to school, it was limited to the elite group. But the narrative changed when Ghana gained independence in 1957, Kwame Nkrumah who became the first President believed education was the only key to a better world and future. He introduced free and compulsory primary education to ensure every child in Ghana experienced basic education. Since then, education has been the number one priority of the various government under the fourth republic.
The Introduction of Free SHS Policy And eLearning
In 2017, the government of Ghana under President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo and through the Ministry of Education introduced the free SHS policy base on Article 25 1b of the 1992 Constitution, which states that “Secondary education in its different forms including technical and vocational education, shall be made generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate means, and in particular, by the progressive introduction of free education’’. The policy was instigated to provide accessible, equal access, and quality secondary education to all girls and boys.
Just like any other educational initiative, the Free SHS policy has been faced with several challenges, especially during the lockdown period in 2020. Covid 19 interrupted physical education and there was a big need to fill in the gap using technology-mediated learning, eLearning and distance education became the change changer. Most institutions hooped on eLearning platforms to ensure students access education in the midst of the crisis.
The Life-Changing Innovation
Learning Passport
According to the World Bank, every child should be able to read by age 10. A child will be able to progress in his or her education through reading, and writing but when the child is unable to read by the age of 10-a learning deficiency occurs and it is described as learning poverty. Learning poverty exists in most countries including Ghana- in most deprived homes where parents cannot afford three square meals, providing educational resource materials to aid learning at home poses as a big challenge.
Being an active believer of effective and efficient education, UNICEF with support from Microsoft has designed a life-changing solution to bridge the learning poverty gap, the innovative app can be accessed on any digital device. The mobile app helps children to continue learning anywhere and anytime to improve their writing and reading skills. The app operates both online and offline, therefore children in non-connecting areas can access the learning platform.
Learning Passport allows children in refugee camps and war zone areas to access education without any barriers. Ghana is a part of the few countries where the Learning Passport is present to bridge the learning poverty gap.
