TMA to operate mobile ICT van

Tema, July 19, GNA - The Tema Municipal Assembly will soon start operating a mobile Information Communication Technology van to help complement the ICT training provided by schools in the Municipality. The ICT van, which is expected to arrive by the end of August forms part of contribution from the Assembly's sister-city, the London Borough of Greenwich in the United Kingdom.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr David Quaye Annan, who announced this over the weekend reminded that "to understand the development of today's world, needs a good knowledge and understanding of ICT", and stressed the need for schools in the municipality to make the teaching and learning of ICT an integral part of the curricula.

He added that, almost everything in this world, is now done by computer and it was necessary that children were exposed to computer operation and its application as early as possible.

Delivering a speech at the 42nd Speech and Prize Giving Day of the Tema Parents Association School the MCE also disclosed that the Assembly this year has projected an amount of 5 billion cedis for the provision of educational facilities and structures in the Municipality.

In order to give equal opportunities to all children, the Assembly, he said has also decided to expand its scholarship scheme for the needy but brilliant students pursuing senior secondary school programmes to include those in the tertiary institutions. He lauded the contributions of private providers in quality educations to complement Government's effort to expand and improve quality of education in the country.

Mr. Annan noted that the country in its collective efforts to provide education for all, had not give much attention to technical and vocational training and said the Ministry of Education and Sports to correct this imbalance, recognises private participation in the educational system. He however, advised private schools to provide workshops where children could develop their talents and this, he said would also help those not academically endowed to identify a vocation early. He cautioned private educational institutions not to see the schools as profitable business ventures but an investment towards improving the future national life.

He observed that some proprietors in the Municipality operate in dilapidated structures and engage unqualified personnel and urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to step up its supervisory role to ensure that all such sub-standard schools improve their facilities or risk being closed down.

Mr Annan advised the school children to learn to be morally disciplined and not to allow themselves to be influenced by bad friends into vices like smoking, stealing and telling of lies.

The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Leona Nsakie-Kassim, said the school has a student population of 1,714, made up of 824 boys and 890 girls with a teaching staff population of 73.

On its performance, she said the school recorded 100 per cent in the 2004 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), won both the District and Regional Junior Scientist Competition and it is representing the Greater Accra Region in the National Junior Maths Quiz. It has also establish a computer laboratory to cater for all the pupils and said its connection to the Broadband 4, and has networked all its offices, staff room to a 24 hour internet.

She lauded the contributions of individuals and organisations to the school and appealed to the TMA to consider constructing speed rumps in front of the school to check on drivers, who speed on their roads and put the lives of the children in danger.

The school's Board Chairman, Mr Richard Kofi Akpokavi, reminded parents that the best legacy they could give to their children is education and asked them not to hesitate to contact the school for any discussions concerning the well being of their wards.

Prizes and awards were presented to students, who have excelled in various subjects as well as long serving teaching and non-teaching staff of the school.