Deputy Education Minister Yaw Osei Adutwum has asked students and critics to place challenges with the e-learning platforms within the context of a pandemic.

The platforms, via radio, online and TV have been deployed following the closure of schools in a bid to avert spread of the new coronavirus among students.

But students in deprived communities have complained about being left out in these interventions.

Responding to the concerns, Dr. Adutwum said the circumstances we find ourselves must be taken into account.

Speaking on Beyond the Lockdown on JoyNews, he said the digital divide has always existed but the Covid-19 just highlighted it.

He urged all to place defeating the pandemic as the foremost priority.  

“If you evaluate everything…within the context of normal times, then you are going to be hard on yourself,” he said.

He added that the evaluation must be done with the mind that “our lives are on the line,” adding that Ghana has a president who is focused on saving the lives of the people.

He also dismissed rumours that schools would reopen in September, adding that no decision has been made on the matter yet.