Ghana’s fast-growing digital economy demands young people who are equipped with strong computer skills long before they reach university. But according to final-year Computer Science student Christian Adueme, the country is still introducing ICT too late leaving many students to encounter basic computer skills for the first time at the tertiary level.
Get the latest campus news, updates, and announcements by joining our WhatsApp channel here: 👉 Join on WhatsApp.
“University should be a place where students refine and advance their computer knowledge not where they learn how to use a computer for the first time,” he says.
Global Research Supports Early ICT Education
Recent studies from international institutions show that early exposure to computers leads to stronger digital competence:
- UNICEF (2024) reports that students with upper-secondary education are far more likely to possess ICT skills than those with only basic schooling.
- World Bank and IFC studies indicate that by 2030, over 230 million jobs in Africa will require digital skills, urging countries to embed ICT into secondary education.
- A 2024 meta-analysis found that integrating ICT in early schooling significantly improves learning outcomes and digital confidence.
- A 2025 U.S. high-school computer science study showed that when schools provide structured CS programs, student participation grows, proving that learners embrace computing when given the opportunity.
Lessons from Western Countries
Countries like the USA, Canada, and Australia demonstrate how strong early computing foundations benefit students:
- In the USA, most states now offer high-school computer science, with some introducing data science and AI basics.
- In Australia, ICT is treated as essential as English and Mathematics within the Digital Technologies Curriculum.
- OECD data shows students in countries like Canada and Australia use computers regularly at school, giving them advanced digital readiness before university.
Why SHS, Not University
Introducing strong ICT education at the SHS level will:
- Build nationwide digital literacy before students reach tertiary institutions
- Reduce the university learning burden
- Prepare learners for a future workforce driven by technology
- Help narrow the digital divide between rural and urban students
“If we want globally competitive graduates, we must begin teaching practical computer skills earlier,” Adueme insists. “The world is moving fast — Ghana must not fall behind.”
About the Writer — Christian Adueme
Christian Adueme grew up in both Togo and Ghana, which has given him a rich cultural background. He is currently studying Computer Science at Accra Technical University. In his free time, he enjoys music, coding, and learning new things.
As a student leader, he served as the Vice President of the Computer Science Department in 2023. He aspired to be the SRC President but did not win. Later, he aimed for the position of Financial Secretary for NASPA Accra Metro and was appointed as the Audit Chair for Greater Accra NASPA.
Christian is friendly, hardworking, and creative, with hopes of becoming one of the top leaders and computer scientists in the near future.
- Instagram: rhyno_christ
- X (Twitter): mr_adueme
