GHANA: Ghana's government rolls out program to increase access to ICT education by distributing free laptops to primary and secondary schools around the country

Record ID: 644229

  • Title: GHANA: Ghana's government rolls out program to increase access to ICT education by distributing free laptops to primary and secondary schools around the country
  • Date: 14th September 2011
  • Summary: STUDENTS WALKING IN SCHOOL COMPOUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) PATIENCE ANYORGMOR, STUDENT VOLIVO LANOR PRIMARY SCHOOL SAYING: "In the old days, there was no computer for us so when they are teaching us the ICT we don't understand it so now that they are giving us the computer, we will understand it better."
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ghana, Ghana
  • Country: Ghana
  • Topics: Education
  • Reuters ID: LVA5OZNBTXJR06TBY3TCSL8G2CAT
  • Story Text: Ghana's government has embarked on a programme to integrate computer studies in primary and secondary schools in the country with an aim to develop Information Communication and Technology (ICT) skills at the basic school level.
    About 60,000 laptops will be distributed under the plan in which a local laptop manufacturing company, RLG communications will supply schools with machines.
    While addressing students at the Volivo Lanor Primary school, the Minister of Education, Betty Mould Iddrissu encouraged students to embrace the technology in their everyday learning.
    Under the e-school policy all students are supposed to have access to a laptop.
    So far about 1,500 computers have been distributed to 100 schools in the country and it's hoped that by the end of 2012 most schools in Ghana will have computers.
    Teachers say the laptops will make ICT lessons more practical.
    "For sometime now we are finding it difficult to teach the ICT, when its time for teaching we sometimes jump or skip the period because we always have to tell them what is abstract but we are grateful that this time they will see the physical thing and even touch it, feel it and operate it as we teach them," said Eric Owusu Kumi, the headteacher at Volivo Lanor Primary one of the schools under the program.
    "In the old days, there was no computer for us so when they are teaching us the ICT we don't understand it so now that they are giving us the computer, we will understand it better," said Patience Anyorgmor.
    The country's Ministry of Communications says the ICT sector is a priority area that has helped drive economic growth in Ghana and that its development is progressing steadily when compared to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
    Many Ghanaians have welcomed the move to have more children exposed to computers at an early age to give them a better advantage in their future careers.
    "If from our time we were having computers in our class just as its about to be distributed to all kids Ghana would have been a very vibrant place in terms of business, in terms of banking, everything," said Eric Avie an Accra resident.
    The distribution of laptops is part of a government initiative themed "ICT As A Tool For Development At The Basic Level" and was created with an aim to teaching of IT at the most basic levels of education in the country.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.
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