The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has urged African governments to prioritise technology-based education in schools for the continent to progress. 

He said education systems across Africa had to evolve to reflect the changing dynamics of society and the global economy.

Mr Iddrisu made the remarks in a speech read ­on his behalf by Professor George K.T. Oduro, Techni­­cal Adviser, at the 4th Africa Education Summit, Ghana 2026, held last Thursday in Accra.

He emphasised that education remained central to national development and must not lag behind technological advancements.

“At the centre of these transformations lies education. Education remains the foundation on which national development is built. It follows therefore that education systems across Africa cannot afford to remain detached from technological progress,” he stressed.

The Minister added that it was no longer viable for African education systems to lag behind in technological advancement.

"Education systems across Africa cannot afford to remain detached from technological progress," he said.

He emphasised that educational technology must be deployed to widen access for all learners regardless of location or socio-economic background.

Mr Iddrisu further highlighted Ghana’s deliberate efforts in recent years to embed digital tools within its education sector through coordinated initiatives.

"A central component of this transformation is the deployment of subject-specific artificial intelligence applications across senior high schools in the country,” he stated.

He added that these AI tools were designed using Ghana’s national curriculum to support teaching and learning.

Summit

The summit, organised by the Global Skills Hub, a training conference organising company in the United Kingdom, had the theme, 'Advancing EdTech Integration in African Education: A Unified Road Map for Action.'

It convened a diverse group of policymakers, educators, researchers, and technology innovators, all focused on strengthening collaboration and accelerating digital change within the education sector.

The three-day summit served as a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and strategic alignment.

The summit also concluded with an awards ceremony that recognised outstanding contributions to educational development across the continent.
 

Collaboration

For his part, the Director of Global Skills Hub, Honey Olawale, called for deeper cooperation among educational stakeholders across Africa.

 He urged governments, institutions, and innovators to pool their expertise and resources to tackle the continent’s educational and technological challenges more effectively.

"Enhancing technological development in education is not only about increasing access to tools and devices but ensuring real impact on learners. African governments must work together to ensure this happens," he said.

Mr Olawale also praised the minister’s role in advancing Ghana’s educational reforms, describing his leadership as instrumental in driving progress.