Three bodies commission laboratory project in Tamale

Three bodies have established and commissioned a Computer Laboratory for the Choggu Demonstration School in the Sagnarigu Municipality of the Northern Region.

The collaborators are; Friends of Yamoransa Foundation (FYF) and Helping Africa Foundation (HAF), both non-profit organisations in the United States and the office of Hajia Samira Bawumia, wife of the Vice President.

The 56-seater Model Lab dubbed: “Yamoransa Model Lab-4" is commissioned in collaboration with the Office of Hajia Samira Baumiah, the Second Lady, funded by HAF and FYF and installed by TECHAiDE to enhance the teaching and learning of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), English, Mathematics and Science.

The facility would benefit over 8,000 children from the host school and nine other surrounding schools.

Each of the unique robust computers in the Lab has 30 pieces of educational softwares for Primary and Junior High Schools installed on it to help with the teaching of Science, Technology, English and Mathematics.

TECHAiDE also installed its newest innovative technology, the 'ASANKA' which provides free access to educational contents using any wifi enabled device like phone, tablet, laptop, or computer with a wireless card.

The current version of the ASANKA installed on the computers has over 500 educational books, videos, Basic Education Certificate Examination past questions for all subjects from 2010 to 2018.

Hajia Samira Bawumia said, ICT continued to play an important role globally in the delivery of services to achieving broad socio-economic goals in education, health, employment and social development.

She said many children in the deprived areas of Ghana had little or no access to ICT as a result of lack of infrastructure and inadequate skilled personnel.

"As a nation, we owe a duty to the next generation, and that duty is to commit ourselves to the growth and development of our children".

Dr Rose said in response and for their love for Computer Literacy Programmes initiated and coordinated the funding for the project to enhance the teaching and learning of ICT.

She said, the effort of setting-up these Model Labs began with a mandate by the Ministry of Education, Ghana, to educate young in the emerging fields of ICT.

Dr Rose said the educational philosophy of the United States embraced the general liberal arts education, encompassing the humanities, the social and natural sciences, rather than strictly technical or pre-professional training and that was believed to be the best preparation to become citizens of the world.

Mr Aryiku said the essential mission of the foundation is to work to improve the education, health and social welfare conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially Ghana.

He said the dedication was in line with the mission and vision of Dr. Rose to promote and spread Computer Literacy throughout the Ghanaian primary school system, adding, "this is the 4th Lab that we have built in Ghana."

Mr Aryiku said the Yamoransa Model Lab was a development strategy by HAF and FYF to support and assist projects that were driven by the local community and that leaders in Ghana must be fully committed to support the project in a sustainable way.

Mrs Mariam Iddrisu, Municipal Chief Executive for Sagnarigu said, the Municipality was changing trends and taking great strides in the field of education by making basic education affordable and accessible to all.

Other dignitaries present were; Alhaji Mohammed Haroon, Northern Regional Director of Education, Chiefs, Mr Anis Haffar, Council Member of the Ghana Education Service and other Directors.

The project is being managed by IMPLEMENTERS, a project management non-profit firm, with its technology partners; TECHAiDE, who have over 10 years experience in technology projects globally.