Perspective on Distance Learning - Ghana

Ben Mensah, University of Cape CoastPresented at eSTEeM International Workshop on Distance Learning,

Open University, UK, April 18-21, 2011

OutlineDevelopment of Distance Learning in Ghana –

historical reviewCurrent State of Distance Learning

Public Universities Other institutions

Prospects and Challenges

Background to DE in GhanaImmediate post-independence:

‘correspondence’ courses for academic and professional qualifications

Offered by institutions outside Ghana – mainly the UK (Wolsey Hall, Rapid Results College)

Subscription dropped in the 1970’s and ‘80s for economic reasons

National need for Distance LearningAs a viable alternative for manpower

development especially in training of teachers

Expansion of access to basic education For upgrading qualifications of teachers

To expand access to university educationVarious attempts have been made to provide

opportunities for distance learning at tertiary level

Need for DE Assessment of DE needs: 1991-1994

the Commonwealth of Learning and UNESCO

4 public universities began preparations for distance delivery of programmes

1995: Government approves DE programmes to begin in all (4) public universities

1996: National Distance Education Council established

1997: Ghana Distance Education Association (GHADEA) inaugurated

State of DE in public universities

• Institute of Adult Education in 1970• Established in 1970• 5938 students registered by 1976• Enrolment down to 12 by 1984

• Currently runs a diploma programme in Youth Development work for students in Ghana, Sierra Leone and the Gambia

• As of 2009, had 4500 students

The University of Cape Coast

Centre for Continuing Education Established in 1997 to administer

DE programmesFirst intake was 750 students in

2001 for Diploma in Basic Education

UCCCurrently runs:

Diploma programmes in Business (Commerce and Management)

Post-Diploma: Education and Business MEd IT

Total no. of programmes: 14Course on HIV / AIDS and

associated stigma (with UG, UEW and SFU)

UCC2010/2011 – 10,500 admitted (cf. 5,081

residential)43% female (35%)The current population of students is close to

30,000, with 32 study centresCompletion rate average 77% between 2004

and 2009.Plans to build regional study centres /

satellite campusesStaff- capacity-building programmes in place

Centre for Continuing Education, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

Student SupportResident tutors in all regions1786 course tutorsBi-monthly face-to-face sessions

Distance Education at UEWAdministered by the Institute for Educational

Development and ExtensionEstablished 1993, with financial support from

the DfID (the ODA)Print-based DE programme began in 1998

with 198 students on 3 year post-diploma degree in Education

Now runs diploma and post-diploma programmes in Basic Education and postgraduate diploma in mentorship

UEWHave plans to start M.Ed. programmes

Science, Maths and Language EducationCurrent enrolment c. 23,000

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyInstitute for Distance Learning (IDL)IDL started in 20058 study centres, one each in 8 of 10 regionsEnrolment– 2575 (2009/2010)

with c. 70% in 2 centres – Accra and Kumasi2,288 admitted for 2010-2011

IDL - KNUSTProgrammesCommonwealth Executive Masters in

Business Administration (CEMBA) Commonwealth Executive Masters in Public

Administration (CEMPA)Proficiency Certificate in Architectural

Draughtsmanship (PCAD)

Other Institutions/FacilitiesTeacher Education Division, Ghana Education

ServiceAfrican Virtual UniversityKludjeson International (UNISA), West Africa

Resource Centre (Leicester University) Besworld Company (OU)

Challenges/NeedsStaff trainingDevelopment of course materialConversion of print-based to electronic

instructional materialEquipment for electronic deliveryPractical work in SciencePerceptions of parity of qualifications

obtained through distance and conventional programmes

ConclusionSignificant advances made in Distance

Education Ghana in the last decadeOpening up access to tertiary education,

freeing learners from the constraints of time and place and offering flexible learning opportunities.

A number of challenges need to be overcome for further development of DE

Thank you

AcknowledgmentsThese sources of information are acknowledged:

Ahiatrogah P.D., Mabenga, M.B., Brew, E.D., Adu, S. and Asabere-Ameyaw A. (2006). Overview of Distance Education Programmes in Ghana. Presented at Workshop on Modern Distance Education and Network Education for African Educators, Jilin University, Changchun, Sept. 2-21

Centre for Continuing Education, University of Cape Coast (CCEUCC)

KNUST website - http://idl.knust.edu.gh/ http://www.knust.edu.gh/pages/news.php?siteid=knust&id=342UG Website - http://www.ug.edu.gh/ W.H.K. Hordzi - University of Education, Winneba

(UEW)