Queen Mother, school authorities appeal for computers for Agomeda D.A Basic School

The Agomeda D.A Basic School in the Shai-Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region is facing challenges with providing its students with an ultra-modern ICT laboratory and library.

According to management of the school, students have to take turns to use the current laboratory when studying Information Communication and Technology (ICT) due to the limited number of computers.

Currently, only one desktop sits in the poorly furnished laboratory for the teaching of practical ICT in the school.

The situation currently deprives the students of the necessary foundation in ICT studies.

To address the issue, the school has held a fundraising event to help raise resources and draw attention towards the plight of the school and learners.

The event led by the queen mother of Agomeda, Nana Dr. Korlekwor Korli-Yohi III, brought together various stakeholders including learners, teachers, parents, school adminsitrators and members of the local community.

The event was also used to launch the 60th anniversary celebrations of the school.

Held on the theme, ‘Educating the child in a conducive school environment, the role of stakeholders,” the Queen Mother said the theme underscores the fact that quality education for a child is a collective responsibility amongst various stakeholders.

She called on stakeholders including the business community as well as government and policy makers to assist in taking the necessary lessons to enable the school to achieve a conducive learning environment.

Nana Dr. Korlekwor Korli-Yohi appealed for the learners to be empowered with the required knowledge and skills to ensure their success in the future.

She promised the continued support of the traditional leadership to ensure a safe and united community as well as responsible parenting to help the school achieve its goal.

Head teacher of the school, Rev. Jonathan Tetteh Kugblenu said the situation is making teaching and learning of the subject difficult for the 350 student population.

Identifying ICT as a necessity towards meeting the demands of a digital world, he remarked: “As the world rapidly becomes more digital, it is imperative that our students have access to the tools and resources that will help them excel in the 21st century. A well-equipped ICT lab will not only foster digital literacy but will also provide our students with the skills they need to navigate the increasingly technology-driven world.”

Furthering on the benefits of establishing a befitting library, he said, “A dedicated library will serve as a hub for research, reading, and independent learning—empowering our students to explore new ideas and expand their knowledge.

Another challenge confronting the school is the deteriorating state of the classrooms. Rev. Kugblenu stressing on the urgency of rehabilitating the classroom block, noted that the facility has deteriorated over the years.

He noted: “Over the years, our classrooms have experienced wear and tear and we want to ensure that our students learn in an environment that is safe, comfortable, and conducive to academic success.”

He also mentioned advanced plans to renovate the school’s KG Block, identifying early years of education as crucial for setting a strong foundation. He added that the KG block, if renovated, will provide the young learners an environment that is both nurturing and stimulating.

According to him, the projects remain integral to the school’s vision of a forward-thinking facility that adapts to the needs of the times and made a passionate appeal to various stakeholders to help the school raise the funds and resources necessary to turn these plans into a reality.

Anthony Joseph-Heh has been teaching ICT in the school for the past three years.

Bemoaning the challenges of teaching ICT without the necessary logistics, he said, "we don't have some of the materials, we don't have any of the laptops or desks available so coming to the practical aspects we find it very difficult in teaching the practical, even in the theory aspect we have only few of the textbooks."

The situation, he said, has compelled him to resort to the use of his personal laptop computer to teach.

With his laptop currently broken down, he noted that the only option left is the only desktop computer in the lab for the entire school.

He appealed to NGOs to assist the school in refurbishing the lab to help properly equip the learners with the appropriate ICT skills, stating that teaching without the right logistics is difficult.

Some of the students who spoke in an interview reiterated the urgent need to have a well-equipped ICT lab in the school.