The Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, Dr James Klutse Avedzi has criticised government’s decision to replace textbooks with laptops in Senior High Schools across the country.

According to Dr Avetsi, “procuring tablets for students when there are abandoned classroom projects is a misplaced priority".

He made this comment while speaking at the zonal sitting of the PAC with technical universities and colleges of education on the 2021 Auditor-General’s Report in Tamale.

The PAC sitting was to scrutinise institutions in the five regions of the north on the report, and check whether measures had been put in place to adhere to the audit recommendations for further action. 

Also read: https://myjoyonline.com/well-replace-textbooks-with-laptops-in-shs-this-year-bawumia/

Dr Avedzi’s comment follows Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's announcement that government through the Ministry of Education is preparing to replace textbooks with laptops in Senior High Schools across the country.

According to him, the textbooks and other teaching and learning materials would be installed on the laptops to be used during lessons.

He added that the initiative would be implemented before the end of 2023.

Read also: https://myjoyonline.com/government-must-lay-down-its-plan-on-how-to-replace-text-books-with-laptops-minority/

However, the Minority has raised concerns about the laptop initiative, and has asked the government to put before the house its elaborate plan to replace textbooks with laptops.

Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson noted that the initiative would cost the taxpayer GH₵1.5 billion however, details about the plan is scanty hence the need for it to be laid before the house.

Also read: https://myjoyonline.com/dont-blame-educational-institutions-for-abandoned-getfund-projects-pac-chair/

Meanwhile, at the PAC sitting, the Ghana News Agency reported that Dr Avedzi also asserted that the abandoning of GETFund projects in the various educational institutions shows a lack of interest by the government to ensure their early completion. 

Thus, it is unfair to blame or question the management of those schools for abandoned projects under the GETFund, which they do not control or fund from the institutional level, he said. 

“This is as a result of misplaced priority on the part of government,” he said.

 “The purpose of the GETFund is for infrastructure development. Government should focus on that rather than areas that are not the main plan of the Fund,” Dr Avedzi added.