Accra, July 10, GNA - Junior High School Students now have the opportunity to learn science and math, as well as basic computer skills by themselves following the launch of a self-teaching software. The software: Soft Science Volume 1, Soft clips Volume 1 & 2 and a book on how to study effectively and become successful were developed by Mr Justice Annan, Project Officer of the Creator's Computer Clinic, an Information Communication Technology (ICT) based organization. The software is in consonance with the Ghana Education Service syllabus.
The programme, which is in a form of an interactive workbook, is expected to aid the teaching and learning of mathematics, Science, basic computer skills at a student's own pace. It entails some 38 computer animations.
Mrs Aurore Selormey, a Chartered Accountant, who launched the programmes, asked parents, teachers and students to accept them. "The ICT industry is a very dynamic one, growing by leaps and bounds daily. The industry in Ghana is no exception as it is also developing at a very fast pace in many sectors of the economy and has thus become a vital part of our daily lives." Mrs Selormey noted that although computer education in Ghana was growing, the level of integration of ICT into the teaching and learning process was very low because many schools lacked modern laboratories and instruction tools based on the Ghana Education Service's approved syllabus.
Mr Annan said he developed the programmes because the working environment in Ghana was fast becoming ICT dominated and there was the need to prepare students in that capacity before they entered the job market.
"E-Learning, that is teaching and learning enhanced by the computer has been identified as having the potential to expand quality educational opportunities to students," he said. Commenting on some advantages of the programmes, he said because of their interactive nature, they enhanced students' interest and confidence, thus facilitating their understanding of their courses. Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, expressed concern about the lack of ICT programmes in most schools in Ghana. He noted that education and knowledge was what drove the development countries and called on Ghanaians to take education, especially ICT serious.
"Countries with poor educational facilities perform poorly academically," Prof. Anamuah-Mensah said.