Ursula Owusu-Ekuful
The Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation in partnership with the Ministry of Education has launched the Ghana Knowledge and Skills Bank (GKNB) portal to provide educational resources to students across the country.
The digital platform, which is sponsored by the World Bank under the e-transform project, will among other things help students learn independently, as well as learn critical thinking skills to solve problems.
The digital platform, which could also be operated offline, is embedded with career planning tools, Artificial Intelligence (AI) component, personal tutor, and past questions for students to prepare for exams and learn at their own pace.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, said the portal will serve as a significant milestone towards digital transformation and inclusive development, to ensure equitable lifelong learning opportunities for students.
She stated that in a world driven by technology, it was imperative that students and teachers harness the power of technology to transform teaching and learning.
According to her, President Akufo-Addo has made digitalisation a key priority of his government since assuming office, with the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, leading the charge.
She said the portal would provide opportunity for students, regardless of their background or location, to have access to world-class education, empower educators to adopt innovative teaching methodologies, and engage students in interactive learning experiences to meet the diverse needs of learners.
The minister, therefore, encouraged Ghanaians, particularly students at the basic and senior high schools, to explore the portal and its resources, and learn new skills to become competitive in a highly competitive job market.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, also said the government since 2017 has embarked on several educational projects which have improved learning outcomes in various parts of the country.
He, therefore, advised people to critically assess progress made in the last few years of the government, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
He further appealed to students to utilise all the contents available on the portal to improve themselves, and also acquire 21st century skills.
The launch also brought together dignitaries from the ministries, students from some senior high schools, technocrats and academia.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah