Mr Ebo Barton Odro, First Deputy Speaker, and Member of Parliament (MP) for Cape Coast North, on Monday stated that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) must be a basic necessity for all pupils at the basic school level.

He said education has gradually moved from the period of limiting teaching and learning to the classroom alone, to a stage of ICT and internet connectivity, and pupils at the basic school level should not be deprived of such an opportunity.

Mr Odro said this at a short ceremony to commission a modern ICT Centre at Pedu and Efutu basic schools in the Cape Coast North Constituency, in a bid to win the hearts and minds of pupils towards developing interest in the study of Science at the basic school level.

The ICT Centre is expected to benefit school pupils at the Pedu Cluster of Schools, and the Efutu MA Basic School in the constituency.

The 13-seater and 20-seater ICT Centres at Pedu Cluster of Schools and the Efutu M.A Basic School respectively, are also fully connected to the internet.

Mr Odro said with the establishment of the ICT Centres, students would get the opportunity to acquire scientific knowledge, practical process skills and attitudes, through hands on activities and experimentation.

This, he believed, would go a long way to contribute greatly to significant improvement of beneficiary schools and students in the Science and ICT subjects in the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE).

Mr Odro advised teachers to upgrade their skills in ICT, to ensure that the pupils benefited effectively from the Centres.

He urged parents and all stakeholders to ensure effective maintenance and sustenance of the facilities.

He advised the pupils to desist from using technology to engage in vices, like cyber crime (‘sakawa’) and watching pornographic materials, but rather use it for their academic advancement.

Ms. Florence Inkoom, Metropolitan Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), expressed gratitude to the MP for his contribution to complement the efforts of GES towards the development and improvement in the quality of education within the constituency.

She indicated that the Science Resource Centre would help the Ghana Education Service to achieve its objective of raising a new generation of students with a strong foundation in Science and Technology, and a strong ability for creative thinking.

Shalom Attom, a pupil at Efutu M/A Basic School, expressed joy as he and other school mates had to previously trek to Asapatu, a nearby community to pay GH 40 to have practical ICT lessons