GOV'T , RLG GIVE 25,000 LAPTOPS TO GT.ACCRA TEACHERS

By Felix Engsalige Nyaaba

Government in partnership with RLG Communications has presented 25,000 laptops through the Ghana Education Services (GES) to teachers in the Greater Accra Region to promote teaching and learning of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the country.

The presentation was in fulfillment of President John Mahama “Better Ghana Agenda' Part II” and campaign promise to provide 50,000 laptops to teachers nationwide to enhance teaching and learning.

Out of the 50,000 laptops project, RLG Was to sup[ply  25,000 , while other two ICT companies also supply the rest of the consignment.

 At a short ceremony to present the laptops, the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Innovation, Dr. Joe Oteng Adjei advised the beneficiaries’ schools and teachers to put them to good use.

He said, in this era of technological advancement, there is the need to improve upon the study of ICT in the country.

Speaking on the Theme:  “Enhancing Basic School Education through ICT”, Dr Adjei stated that the ICT will help bridge the gap and make many Ghanaians, especially the youth and students computer literates.

According to the minister, the country economy could only revolutionize positively if ICT   teaching and learning is taking seriously in the education system.

He also emphasized government's commitment to improving educational standards , adding that the ministry of Environment, Science  and  Technology Innovation  will make ICT a priority and ensure that every school and teachers has access to the internet to enhance  teaching and learning.

The Director General of Ghana Education Services, Mrs. Benedicta Naana Biney who received the Laptops on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude towards government and RLG for supporting the GES to enhance teaching and learning in the country.

She said Ghana is of age to enhance its education system with ICT and that teacher needs ICT knowledge to be able to impact same to students.

The GES Boss also gave props to the president of Ghana for the initiative, and was hopeful that it “will go far, and promised to ensure that the laptops are use for the purpose intended for.”

She also urged the beneficiaries’ teachers to take the ICT teaching seriously to be able to provide the human resource needed in the country.

The head of Legal and Corporate Affairs of RLG, Mr. Prosper Harrison Addo said the ultimate aim of the project was to improve academic performance among students in the country.

He also said the project was also compliment of the ongoing projects. The Basic School Computerizing project which has seen 60,000 laptops supplied to schools across the country, adding that RLG is upgrading the operation software for all the 60,000 laptops to Microsoft Window 7 on free basis to the government.

Mr. Addo further disclosed that as part of providing employment opportunity to Ghanaian youth, RLG is positioning itself to create over 2000 jobs to produce fridges and Television sets in the country.

He said when the fridges and television sets products are ready; teachers all over the country would be first beneficiaries’ to be giving the opportunity to a hire purchase rate.