A programme to establish educational on-line communities for secondary school students and teachers around the globe to expand distance learning opportunities has been launched in Accra. Known as World Links for Development, the programme will initially link one thousand 200 high schools in 40 countries by the year 2000. It is aimed at improving educational results for participating students and enabling developing countries to do away with obsolete technologies and adopt modern ones. The Minister of Education, Dr.. Christina Amoako-Nuamah, who launched the programme, noted that the high demand for education in the light of limited government resources calls for improved management of those resources. The Ministry is, therefore, establishing a computerised Education Management Information System, the pilot programme of which has already started. The World Links for Development Programme, Dr.. Amoako-Nuamah said, is very crucial to education. She stressed that the utilization of modern technology in education enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of teaching. It provides the nation with a pool of well trained and highly skilled labour to meet the demands of both the public and private sectors. The Minister said students, who are exposed to current technologies, have greater capacity to absorb technological changes and innovations to enhance productivity. She announced that by the end of the year, 10 more secondary schools within the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Eastern Regions will be connected to the internet. The World Bank will provide limited assistance through training, technical know-how and some hardware. Dr.. Amoako-Nuamah commended Network Computer Systems for pledging to provide free internet service for 100 secondary schools for one year. Standard Chartered Bank pledged two thousand dollars, while Provident Insurance donated eight million cedis for the project. End