Credit: Kekeli K. Blamey
With over 600,000 candidates set to sit for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) is urging the government to seize the moment to bridge the digital gap in Ghana’s basic schools — a step they say is vital for educational equity.
In a statement released Tuesday, Eduwatch emphasized that the upcoming Computing paper presents both a challenge and an opportunity for systemic reform. The think tank warned that without immediate intervention, thousands of students—particularly in deprived districts—will be examined on skills they have never had the chance to practice.
“This is a pivotal moment,” Eduwatch stated. “We have the chance to ensure digital literacy is not a privilege for the few but a right for all Ghanaian children.”
Data gathered by Eduwatch paints a stark picture: only 2% of schools in the most deprived areas have functional computers, leaving the majority of students in regions like Northern Ghana, Oti, and Western North at a severe disadvantage. National statistics reveal that more than two-thirds of children aged 6–14 in the Savannah, North-East, and Northern regions have never used an ICT device.
But rather than focus solely on the disparity, Eduwatch is pressing for concrete steps. The organization is calling on government and stakeholders to launch a nationwide initiative to equip underserved schools with essential ICT infrastructure, reliable electricity, and trained teachers.
“No child should be penalized in a national exam for lacking access to a computer,” Eduwatch said. “The upcoming BECE must serve as a wake-up call to accelerate inclusive digital development in education.”
As the Ghana Education Service (GES) confirms the readiness of logistics and timetables for the June 11–18 exams — with 603,328 candidates participating — Eduwatch insists that readiness must go beyond administrative processes. True preparedness, they argue, means ensuring all students are equipped with the tools to succeed in a digital future.
“Inclusive digital literacy is not just a tech issue — it’s a justice issue,” the organization concluded.
