The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations has provided an additional 2,000 laptops to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) as part of a major restructuring of the government’s flagship One Million Coders Programme.
The initiative, led by Minister Samuel Nartey George, is being refocused to prioritise Level 300 and Level 400 students to ensure graduates acquire practical digital skills that align with current job market demands.
The minister announced the latest laptop donation and the programme’s revised direction during a working visit to KNUST in the Ashanti Region. The visit formed part of his tour to monitor the progress of the Rural Telephony Project and the One Million Coders Programme.
With the additional 2,000 laptops, the ministry’s total device support for KNUST has increased to 2,500 laptops. The equipment is expected to strengthen digital learning infrastructure and expand access to computer-based training across 15 dedicated learning centres on campus.
Government Refocuses One Million Coders Programme on Employable Digital Skills
Under the original Service Level Agreement (SLA) between the ministry and KNUST, the One Million Coders Programme mainly targeted first-year students.
However, following a curriculum review involving international experts and a specialised training programme at Harvard University, the government has decided to prioritise students approaching graduation.
Honourable Sam George explained that training students in Levels 300 and 400 would help bridge the gap between digital education and employment by ensuring that participants can apply their knowledge as they prepare to enter the workforce.
He noted that training students too early without continuous opportunities to practise their skills could create a gap between learning and implementation by the time they graduate.
The revised approach is therefore intended to equip university students with job-ready digital competencies and improve their prospects in Ghana’s growing technology sector.
Harvard Collaboration to Identify In-Demand Technology Skills
The minister further disclosed that the government is working with a team from Harvard to conduct a global skills gap analysis to identify the digital competencies most needed by employers.
The findings are expected to guide the development of courses that respond directly to industry requirements, with particular attention to artificial intelligence (AI), practical computing and other emerging digital technologies.
The additional laptops are intended to provide sufficient access to learning equipment for KNUST students participating in the programme, particularly those in their third and fourth years.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen digital literacy, develop Ghana’s technology workforce and prepare young people for employment opportunities in the global digital economy.
KNUST Vice-Chancellor Welcomes New Digital Skills Training Model
The Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Christian Agyare, expressed appreciation to the ministry for the laptop donation and its continued recognition of the university as a strategic partner in digital skills development.
Professor Agyare welcomed the decision to focus on Level 300 and Level 400 students, describing the revised approach as a practical way to prepare graduates for the world of work.
He also confirmed that KNUST has the necessary faculty expertise and infrastructure to support the implementation of the updated programme.
The university is expected to use its existing facilities and academic resources to expand access to coding, artificial intelligence and other technology-focused training opportunities.
KNUST Reports 1,447 Students Enrolled in One Million Coders Programme
Providing an update on the programme’s progress at the university, Professor Jerry Job Kponyo, Director of the Office of Grants and Research (OGR) and coordinator of the One Million Coders Programme at KNUST, disclosed that 1,447 students had enrolled across four major university centres.
The enrolment figures are distributed as follows:
- Department of Computer Science: 804 students
- Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering: 265 students
- Responsible AI Lab: 258 students
- Faculty of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering: 120 students
Professor Kponyo reported that 195 students had completed all their training modules, while several others were continuing through hybrid, online and self-paced learning arrangements.
The programme is designed to provide flexible learning opportunities and improve students’ access to practical technology education across different academic disciplines.
Digital Skills Training Seen as Key to Tackling Youth Unemployment
Professor Kponyo emphasised the importance of digital skills development in addressing youth unemployment and improving economic opportunities across Africa.
He noted that Africa’s median age is approximately 19, highlighting the importance of preparing the continent’s young population with relevant, market-ready skills.
According to him, equipping young people with coding knowledge, artificial intelligence expertise and other digital competencies could improve their employability and support innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth.
KNUST’s existing learning facilities, including the multipurpose laboratory, Library Mall, College of Engineering laboratory, main ICT centre and Obuasi campus, are positioned to accommodate additional learners as the programme expands.
The government’s renewed focus on practical digital education is expected to strengthen Ghana’s technology talent pipeline and support the development of a skilled workforce capable of meeting changing industry demands.
As the One Million Coders Programme evolves, the collaboration between the government, KNUST and international experts is expected to play a significant role in advancing digital transformation, technology education and employment opportunities for Ghanaian graduates.
Source: newsthemegh.com