Kumasi: Prof. Ernest Kofi Davies, Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has officially commissioned a state-of-the-art smart classroom block at Opoku Ware Senior High School (OWASS) in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. This forms part of the broader Ghana Smart Classrooms Project, aimed at transforming traditional classrooms into advanced digital learning spaces.
According to Ghana News Agency, the new facility, a 12-unit classroom block, replaces the former two-classroom setup previously used for digital learning. Each of the new classrooms is fully equipped with cutting-edge educational tools and infrastructure designed to empower students with digital skills for the 21st century. Every classroom features interactive smart screens to enhance teaching and engagement, individual tablets for students to encourage hands-on learning, and reliable internet connectivity to facilitate access to global educational resources.
The facility is also outfitted with solar-powered charging cabinets to ensure sustainable energy use, and modern ergonomic furniture to improve comfort and concentration. Teachers will leverage the KATON360 Learning Management System (LMS), a comprehensive digital platform that enables interactive lessons, real-time assessments, access to digital resources, and personalised learning experiences.
Prof. Davies stated that modern classrooms are no longer defined by four walls and chalkboards but are instead dynamic, connected spaces where innovation meets information. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continue implementing effective policies regardless of the political administration that introduced them to ensure every student benefits from initiatives like this. ‘To this end, the GES will ensure that these initiatives continue until every student gains access to tablets and related accessories essential for learning,’ he stated.
Prof. Davies also noted that a strong internet infrastructure is central to the smart school concept and added that the government is exploring stringent guidelines to safeguard digital education against security, privacy, and safety concerns. Reverend Father Stephen Owusu Sekyere, President of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), praised the project as a bold step toward delivering world-class education to Ghanaian students. However, he stressed the importance of equity in its implementation. ‘The Smart Classrooms Project must be extended to every second cycle school in the country regardless of location or access to electricity. Every student, even in the most remote village, must benefit from this initiative,’ he passionately appealed.
The Ghana Smart Classrooms Project aims to both upgrade existing infrastructure in public senior high schools and construct new smart classroom blocks where needed. As part of the initiative, students will receive free tablets loaded with educational materials, including textbooks. Additionally, teachers and GES staff will be equipped with laptops to support research, teaching, and learning under a separate programme. This digital learning initiative is designed to improve the quality of education delivery and learning outcomes across all beneficiary schools.