The Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology on Wednesday said government has planned to increase laptop distribution to second cycle and tertiary students to boost the teaching and learning of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT).

Dr Mustapha Ahmed, said, with the increasing need to build capacity of students for local entrepreneurship and the job market, government placed high premium on ICT learning which is now an examinable subject.

The Deputy Minister said this at the second phase of laptop distribution in Bolgatanga, during which 40 tertiary students received personal laptops under the Better Ghana Agenda (BGA) programme.

He said this critical intervention was part of government’s policy to make available to students computers to help in the learning of ICT.

He said the investment in the youth was to build their capacities to the fullest and promote more learning and technology transfer.

The Deputy Minister said, government currently had contracted rLG, (an indigeneous compute manufacturing company) to supply 100,000 laptop computers under the BGA for second cycle and tertiary students.

However, the ministry had taken note of the increasing demands by students for personal laptops and is making financial arrangements to increase the distribution to reach all.

He cautioned the beneficiaries against the use of the computers to foment trouble and rather put them into good intended purposes.

Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister said until recently, students from the three northern regions in the second cycle institutions did not have the opportunity to access personal computers.

He expressed gratitude that more than 1,000 computers were distributed to basic and senior high schools for learning of ICT under the Ministry of Education.

He called on the beneficiaries from the tertiary level under the BGA to use the computers for positive things that would broaden their knowledge and horizon in the world of ICT.

Miss Aduri Winbeniti Lois, an accounting student of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic and a beneficiary thanked the government for the gift.

She said until now her assignments were typed at business centres and had to wait in long queues before her turn.

She said the laptop would help in prompt delivery of her assignments, project work and also data entry.**