Government has commenced the distribution of another batch of 2,125 laptops to schools in the Volta Region. This batch, which is under the aegis of the Ministry of Science and Technology, is going to individuals in tertiary schools, skills and professional-based training institutions and Senior High Schools in the region.
Miss Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment Science and Technology in a symbolic presentation ceremony in Ho on Saturday, said the programme was to boost technology-led knowledge seeking among students. She cautioned beneficiaries that the laptops, procured under the government-RLG Communications collaboration, were not for entertainment but rather to spur self-tutorship amongst students.
Miss Ayittey said the policy was a reflection of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government's systematic approach to raising the quality of education across all levels of education in the country. She said with time, the ratio of one computer to 1,000 students would be reduced to one computer to 100 students, allowing for ICT knowledge to break into every community in Ghana.
Mr Henry Ametefe, Deputy Volta Regional Minister said only recently, close to 7,000 laptops were distributed to some basic schools in the region. He said going along with the programme was the extension of electricity to many communities in the region. Mr Emmanuel Arthur, Corporate Affairs Manager of RLG Communications, said his company, which is assembling the laptops, was pleased to be associated with the project and would deliver on schedule.
Mr Desmond Mensah, President of Ho-Polytechnic Chapter of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN), of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a statement, said the there was no political tinge to the distribution of the laptops and that one did not have to associate with the NDC to get one. He said to qualify, one only needed to apply and that one could go through the process of application online.
Beneficiaries were from 17 institutions, including Ho Polytechnic, EP University College in Ho, Health Assistant's Training School, Keta, Akatsi College of Education and hosts of Senior High Schools.