The Ghana Education Service (GES) says it has a backlog of several textbooks to print for students in both first and second cycle schools. The GES says it is lagging behind in the printing of core and elective textbooks for senior high schools in the country due mainly to the cost of printing these text books. The Deputy Director of the GES, Stephen Adu, disclosed this at the signing of an MOU between the Government of Ghana represented by the Ministry of Education and the United Nations Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with Worldreader, a non-profit organization, to support the iREAD programme in the country. Under the MoU, Worldreader would provide 500 students and their teachers in some selected schools across the country with the grade three levels e-reader devices with access to an enormous selection of digital books. The e-reader, an electronic device, which could accommodate over 3,500 books, includes core local textbooks, Ghanaian story textbooks and international children’s literature. The programme, being tested in some six schools in the country, started last November and is aimed at ensuring that students significantly understand the effective use of technology in Ghanaian classrooms and promoting quality education in Ghana. USAID/Ghana Deputy Director, Peter Argo signed for USAID while Mr. Stephen Adu signed on behalf of the Ministry of Education and the GES. Colin McElwee of Worldreader explained that the device, even though is not a technical solution to educational challenges in the country, could help solve about 80 percent of challenges associated with reading. He said Worldreader was working with students, publishers, telecom providers, the Ministry of Education and teachers on how the device would be used to help the children. Mr. McElwee assured that Worlreader will ensure that the device transforms the lives of Ghanaian students. In an interview with Asempa News, the Deputy Director of the GES said the Ministry of Education and the GES had already started the pilot projects in some schools and would ensure it spreads to other schools in the country. He said the GES and the Ministry would encourage Worldreader in the schools since the hard copy books are being destroyed. He added that the electronic e-reader will cut the high cost of spending on books for the students. Story: Kwaku Antwi-Otoo/Asempa 94.7FM/Ghana