Microsoft to partner Ghana in ICT development

Accra, June 17, GNA - The Ministry of Education and the US-based Microsoft Corporation, on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) capacity of teacher trainees in Ghana.

The MOU will also enable Microsoft to develop a software to support teaching and learning in all schools. The signing was in recognition of the importance of ICT in school development and teaching and learning.

The MOU is a renewal of the 2004 agreement between the two entities, which resulted in the establishment of three Information Technology academies at the universities of Cape Coast, Education and Development Studies, The programme had led to the training of 300 teachers at all levels of basic education.

Dr Joseph Annan, Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education, signed on behalf of the Ministry, whilst Mr Ali Faramawy, Vice President, Middle East and Africa of Microsoft Corporation, initialled on behalf of his organisation Dr Annan said support for the development of ICT benchmarks for teachers and students was a challenge facing the country's educational sector.

He said the Ministry was committed to ensuring that all educational institutions used common licensed software to facilitate easy access to the software industry to impact on development. Dr Annan called on Microsoft to consider developing a special ICT software package for the special needs of students in Ghana to enhance teaching and learning.