ICT must be a basic necessity in education – Barton Odro

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

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 their 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 improve students and pupils knowledge of science and ICT subjects significantly in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

Mr Odro advised teachers to upgrade their skills in ICT to be able to ensure that the pupils benefit effectively from the Centres, and 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 cybercrime (‘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 her gratitude to the MP for his contribution to complement the efforts of GES towards the development and improvement in the quality of education in 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 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 40p to have practical ICT lessons.