PROMOTING ICTs IN EDUCATION ---The Deployment and Exploitation of ICTs in Education Policy Context Ghana has a high illiteracy rate of close to 40% of the population above the age of 6 years who have never been to school with only about 3% of the population with tertiary level education. Based on the current population growth rate of 2.5%, Ghana’s population will be about 38 million --- double the 2000 figure by 2028. The projected rate of growth of Ghana’s population is likely to give rise to a number of socio-economic development challenges including those relating to: pressure on social expenditure in areas like education. In fact, Ghana’s, relatively young population of close to 60% of the population under the age of 25 years, do have the potential to further increase demand for educational places, which is currently limited at all levels of the educational system. Currently the country is experiencing a high primary school drop-out rate and very low secondary school enrolment rate. --- With close to 50% of junior secondary school leavers failing to progress to senior secondary school; and a high proportion of senior secondary school leavers failing to continue their education. A recent survey also shows that the level of computer literacy and awareness in the country is very low and this has been identified as one of the key factors limiting the development of the ICT industry and sector. It is acknowledged that for Ghana to make any appreciable progress in its socio-economic development efforts, substantial resources will need to be directed at reducing the percentage of the population without any educational attainment, widening access to education to the vast majority of the population and increasing the percentage of the population with tertiary level education. The key role that ICTs can play in widening access to education to a wider section of the population; and in literacy education and for facilitating educational delivery and training at all levels has been recognized. The Government has acknowledged the need for ICT training and education in the schools, colleges and universities, and to improve the educational system as a whole. The Policy Statement As part of the mission to: transform the educational system to provide the requisite educational, and training services and environment capable of producing the right types of skills and human resources required for developing and driving Ghana’s information and knowledge-based economy and society, the Government is committed to a comprehensive programme of rapid deployment, utilization and exploitation of ICTs within the educational system from primary school upwards. Policy efforts shall be directed at using ICTs to facilitate education and learning within the educational system and to promote e-learning and education as well as life-long learning within the population at large. As part of this policy commitment the Government shall put in place policy measures to strengthen science education at all levels of the educational system and as well as promote technical and vocational training with emphasis on the use of ICTs to facilitate the training and learning process. 37