Ghana to Launch Virtual High School for 10,000 Students Next Academic Year

Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Ghana’s Minister for Education, has announced that the country will introduce a Virtual Senior High School starting next academic year, with an initial enrollment of 10,000 students nationwide.

This initiative was unveiled during the launch of the Ghana Knowledge and Skills Bank Portal on September 17, 2024, which was organized by the Ministry of Communications in partnership with the Education Ministry.

Dr Adutwum explained that the virtual high school is part of the New Patriotic Party’s broader transformation agenda for the education sector, which President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia lead.

He noted that the virtual school will be hosted on the Skills and Knowledge Bank Portal and offer content aligned with the approved curriculum.

Ghana is also developing virtual laboratories in collaboration with the Open University in the United Kingdom, which will facilitate practical learning for students enrolled in the Virtual High School.

“This will enable us to create the first-ever Ghana Virtual High School, where students will learn virtually,” he stated. “For example, you’ll be able to dissect a frog virtually, ensuring that students have access to science education regardless of physical lab limitations.”

Dr. Adutwum emphasized that the digitalization of education represents a significant opportunity for Ghana, promising a major paradigm shift. He expressed optimism that this initiative would create a more advanced education system than previously imagined.

“Ten years ago, we could not have envisioned the Ghana Knowledge Bank, now second only to Egypt. With the infusion of AI, we are poised to develop the best learning portal,” he remarked.

The Skills and Knowledge Bank Portal, developed by Mpuntu Technologies—a wholly Ghanaian-owned company—with support from telecommunications giant MTN and funding from the World Bank, provides access to over 5 million online library archives, learning resources, and tools for students and researchers.

The platform is available in multiple languages and offers an option for personalized teaching assistance.