Education is regarded as a critical component of the development of the economies of countries the world over and the transformation of these economies is largely hinged on mathematics and science education. Undeniably, the role that education plays in the empowerment of the nation’s human resource cannot be underestimated.
It is for this reason that LearnRite Ghana Limited, an education-driven company solely dedicated to providing easily-comprehendible education of the best quality possible to all, has launched its first product. The product, which is tailor-made for SHS students whose courses include one General Science subject or another, comes with a special tablet and a pen drive containing audiovisual lessons, both encrypted, as well as corresponding textbooks.
Speaking at the launch of the product, the Chairman of LearnRite, Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, told Citi News that he believes the innovation will go a long way to demystify notions that paint the sciences as a tremendously difficult course to comprehend.
“LearnRite surveyed secondary schools and asked them about the best teachers in science. We started with science because we believe science education is what develops any country. So we brought them [the best teachers] together and said, ‘we want to work with you for you to use your experience to teach and explain the concepts in the textbooks on video.’ So we set up a studio and a laboratory and they’ve done that. So we now have Volume 1 from Form 1 till the middle of Form 2 and they’re working on the Volume 2, which will be from the second half of Form 2 till Form 3.
So we have now, four packages. The first package is for total science: Physics Chemistry, Biology, Integrated Science, Elective Maths and Core Maths. Then we have Core Maths and Integrated Science for those who are in General Science. Now those who do Home Economics, they do Integrated Science and Core Maths but some do Chemistry and some do Biology; so that is a package of three. And then those who do Business, they do Elective Maths, Core Maths and Integrated Science. Now our hope is that we would move into Geography and Economics for the General Arts group, do Accounts for the Business group, and then we will drill down to JHS, which will be Integrated Science, English and Maths. Because we believe that these learning concepts should even start from Upper Primary so that you begin to appreciate and understand the basis for these programs.”
Prof. Akosa further explained that soon, English Language will join the various packages as it has also proven to be a somewhat challenging subject for many SHS students.
Regarding cost of the product and its accessibility, he highlighted the support provided by Best Point Savings and Loans and Ghana Post.
“The pricing has been done in such a way that it is reasonable and affordable. Now having done that, you want to hit everybody in this country so we approached Ghana Post and said, ‘Ghana Post, if anybody wants this product and the person is anywhere in this country, can you deliver?’ and they said ‘we can deliver’. So we agreed on the fee and it is part of the package.
Then we approached Best Point and said, ‘we want to do this so that anybody who doesn’t have the full amount in their pockets can come to you, get a facility and pay in bits so that their child can happily get the package and go to school whiles parents work and pay, and they agreed.’ And today [Monday], gladly, we’ve launched the partnership with Best Point.”
The Managing Director of Best Point Savings and Loans, Philip Odei Asare, also explained to Citi News that the role of his company transcends beyond financing the manufacturing of the product.
“First, if you want to buy the materials, you could go to any of our branches – LearnRite has an account with us – so you can make payment into that account and once you make payment into that account and you provide your GPS location address, Ghana Post GPS will deliver the items to where you are.
Then, parents who for one reason or another aren’t able to generate the full amount of the funds required, may approach Best Point. If you are our customers, then it is easy because if you operate an account with us for up to two months, you qualify for a loan. So such parents can easily take a loan from us and acquire this product to assist their children in school.”
It is the hope of LearnRite Ghana Limited that its products would gradually be regarded as the supplementary learning tool that it has been built to be and eventually be adopted into the nation’s education system.