Leklebi-Duga(VR), June 23, GNA - Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, Director-General of Ghana Education Service (GES) last weekend said government had instituted the requisite infrastructure to facilitate the teaching of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in 250 selected Senior High Schools (SHSs) nation-wide.
Each of the schools would be provided with 40 desktop computers, a server, two laptop computers, UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply), multimedia projector, a screen and digital contact (for seven curriculum areas).
Mr Bannerman-Mensah, announced these in an address read on his behalf at the 40th Anniversary Speech and Prize Giving Day of Leklebi SHS (LESEC) at Leklebi-Duga.
It was under the theme, "Marching Onwards to Academic Excellence". He gave the assurance that 200 more buses would be distributed to SHSs and three technical institutes as part of an on-going policy by government to solve the transportation problems in schools. Mr Bannerman-Menash said these interventions were to help address and enhance the mobility, accessibility and effective monitoring for quality education enterprise.
He said the new educational reform emphasized the teaching and learning of science, ICT, agriculture, technology and vocational programmes to cater for the increasing heavy human resource requirement of the nation in the era of technology in the global economy. Mr Bannerman-Mensah said the reform was on course and urged stakeholders to reposition and fine-tune themselves for the task ahead. He acknowledged the tremendous support of major actors including Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and traditional authorities. The Director-General paid glowing tribute to teachers for their pivotal role in providing quality education but challenged them to set the right tone for time management and prudent use of resources. Mr Bannerman-Mensah urged students to cultivate positive stereotypes and eschew attitudes, which were inimical to the progress of academic work and discipline such as truancy, drug abuse, occultism and avoid rowdyism.
Professor Mawutor Avoke, Pro-Vice Chancellor of University of Education, Winneba, said teaching should not only be about inculcating knowledge but adopting human-oriented approaches that sought the total development and welfare of students.
He urged communities to promote education and motivate students by instituting educational endowment funds and establishing scholarship schemes for academic excellence and entreated parents to invest in the total development of their children's education.
Mr John Peter Amewu, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive assured the school of the assembly's continued support and urged major actors to strive harder to achieve more academic and extra curriculum successes. He called for unity and co-operation between the school authorities and the community for quality teaching and learning.
Mr Joseph Z. Amenowode, Member of Parliament for Hohoe-South, commended the pioneering staff led by Reverend C. K. Agbola and Togbe Agboka VI, Paramount Chief of Leklebi for their contribution to the school.
Mr Joshua J.B. Baku, Chairman of Board of Governors of the school said frequent changes in authorities had affected the accelerated development of the school and called for peaceful co-existence between the community and school.
Mr Thomas N. K. Odikro, Headmaster of the school said the student population had increased to 405 from 35 about 40 years ago, with 22 teaching staff and 26 non-teaching staff. He said academic performance had improved in the past three years recording an average of 90 per cent.
Mr Odikro commended Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice President for presenting a pick-up, management of Volta River Authority for a bus and Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) for constructing a two-storey girls' dormitory for the school.
He appealed to government to consider including the school in the upgrading of less endowed schools to solve its accommodation problems. About 148 students, present and past staff, community members and chiefs, politicians, corporate institutions and friends of the school who distinguished themselves were presented with awards. An anniversary plaque and the school's cadet corps were inaugurated.
