Ghana is set to widen access to digital science and technology education as the government and the Republic of Korea begin a new phase of collaboration aimed at equipping students with skills in emerging technologies.
The second phase of the Digital Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Project will receive US$28 million from South Korea and run from 2026 to 2032, with a focus on expanding digital learning opportunities and strengthening STEM infrastructure.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project was signed in Accra by the Minister of Education, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, on behalf of Ghana.
Under the new phase, the initiative will expand beyond the Central and Eastern Regions, where the first phase was implemented, to include the Ashanti and Northern Regions.
The project will also support the construction of the Accra STEM Park, enhance the Northern STEM Resource Centre and introduce more digital tools into science and technology education at the basic school level.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Iddrisu said investment in education remained central to Ghana’s development agenda, stressing that building a skilled workforce was critical to the country’s future.
He said the achievements recorded under the first phase demonstrated the impact of targeted investment in STEM education.
According to him, participating schools recorded significant improvements in academic performance, including a 22.6 percentage-point rise in Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) Mathematics pass rates and a 10.5 percentage-point increase in Science performance.
The Minister said the second phase, known as “Digital STEM for All,” would introduce learners to advanced skills such as robotics, coding, electronics and artificial intelligence from the basic education level.
He added that the Ministry of Education was preparing to introduce a revised curriculum for kindergarten through junior high school before September 30, with digital education serving as a major component.
Mr Iddrisu expressed Ghana’s appreciation to the Korean Government and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for their continued partnership and called on stakeholders to support the effective implementation of the programme.
The Korean Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Gyongsig Park, said his country’s economic transformation had been driven largely by investment in education and human capital development.
He explained that South Korea’s decision to support the second phase was influenced by the positive outcomes of the first project and reflected its commitment to helping Ghana build a future-ready education system.
Mr Park expressed confidence that the expanded programme would strengthen Ghana’s capacity to produce graduates equipped for the demands of the digital economy.
The KOICA Country Director, Mr Dong Hyun Lee, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s education sector, describing digital integration in STEM learning as a significant step towards preparing young people for future careers.
He assured Ghana of KOICA’s continued partnership to ensure the successful delivery of the project.
The expansion of the Digital STEM Education Project forms part of efforts by Ghana and its development partners to bridge digital skills gaps, improve science education outcomes and prepare learners for opportunities in technology-driven industries.
