Koforidua, Sept 28, GNA - Three basic schools in the Eastern Region have received 90 laptop computers under the "one laptop per child project" instituted last year, to enhance the teaching and learning of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in basic schools. The schools are Akropong Salem in the Akuapem North District, Kodjonya Presbyterian School in the Lower-Manya District and Nana Kwaku Boateng School in New Juaben District.

The Regional Director of Education, Mrs Renee Boakye-Boaten, who presented the items to the schools, advised staff and management of the schools to guard against charging fees from the pupils for usage of the computers.

She said no beneficiary school had been authorized to charge a levy or fee whatsoever under the pretext of maintenance and trainer allowance, adding that any teacher found culpable would be penalized. According to Mrs Boaten the project was instituted by Government through the Ghana Education Service (GES), to be integrated into the curriculum of the schools, and so there was no need to levy pupils. She said very soon all teachers would be trained in ICT teaching and maintenance, to enable them teach the children without hiring the services of an instructor.

Mrs Boakye-Boaten said for the meantime, teachers with knowledge in ICT would be posted to the beneficiary schools, to facilitate the teaching of the subject, and urged the schools to take good care of the facility to serve its purpose.

The Akuapem North District Director of Education, Mr Alexander Osei, who chaired the ceremony, urged the beneficiary schools to put the facility to good use to serve as an example to other schools. He said the world was fast becoming a global village and so children must be encouraged to learn ICT to enable them compete with others. He called on the teachers to arouse the interest of the children in computer studies. 28 Sept 09