Ghana Set to Launch Virtual High School in 2024 Academic Year
Ghana is poised to revolutionize its educational landscape with the launch of its first-ever Virtual High School at the start of the next academic year. This landmark initiative, announced by the Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, will enroll 10,000 students from across the country in a fully digital learning environment, marking a significant step in the nation’s ongoing educational reforms.
Dr. Adutwum made the announcement during the official launch of the Ghana Knowledge and Skills Bank Portal on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. The portal, developed by Mpuntu Technologies with support from MTN and funding from the World Bank, will serve as the platform for the Virtual High School.
“This initiative is part of the transformation we envision for the education sector under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,” Dr. Adutwum stated. “The Ghana Virtual High School will allow students to study via an online platform built with content from the approved national curriculum.”
One of the key features of the Virtual High School is its partnership with the Open University in the United Kingdom to develop cutting-edge virtual laboratories. These virtual labs will enable students to conduct scientific experiments remotely, including complex procedures like frog dissection, which previously required fully equipped physical labs.
“The new virtual labs will ensure that no student can say they were unable to pursue science due to a lack of facilities,” Dr. Adutwum noted. “This is the new Ghana—a nation where students can perform science experiments digitally and receive the same quality of education as their peers in more resourced countries.”
The launch of the Virtual High School and the Ghana Knowledge and Skills Bank Portal underscores Ghana’s commitment to digitizing education and closing gaps in access to quality learning. The portal, which incorporates artificial intelligence, is expected to be a state-of-the-art educational tool, further enhancing the country’s ability to provide world-class education to its students.
“The digitalization of education offers our nation a new opportunity,” Dr. Adutwum said. “With this initiative, we are creating a system we never thought possible just a decade ago. Our virtual high school and digital learning tools will ensure Ghana becomes a leader in 21st-century education.”
As the world moves towards digital learning, Ghana’s Virtual High School aims to not only improve access to education but also to equip students with the skills necessary to thrive in a globalized, tech-driven economy. The Virtual High School is expected to begin operations in the 2024 academic year and will be hosted on the Ghana Knowledge and Skills Bank Portal.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy by the government to reform education and create opportunities for students across all regions, bridging the gap between urban and rural education.
About Mpuntu Technologies
Mpuntu Technologies, a wholly Ghanaian-owned tech company, led the development of the Ghana Knowledge and Skills Bank Portal. The project was made possible with support from telecommunication giant MTN and financial backing from the World Bank.
