Winneba: The Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has presented computers to 20 deprived schools in the Effutu Municipality of the Central Region. The gesture was part of her personal commitment to empower children, focusing on the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education for all students, regardless of their location.
According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative aligns with the government's ongoing efforts to digitalise education and bridge the technology education gap in deprived schools and rural communities. The schools benefiting from this initiative include New Winneba, Ayirebi Yankson, Ansaful M/A, Presby, Ansaredeen, Zion ABC, Don Bosco B, and ACM basic. Others are Ayahyedo M/A, Eyingyeadzi, Nuakyir, Presby B, Akosua Village, University Inclusion, Atieku M/A, Nananom, Zion Girls Basic Schools, and Winneba Technical Institute.
Mr. Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, the Central Regional Minister, presented the computers on behalf of the Vice President at a ceremony held at the Effutu Municipal Assembly in Winneba. The event was attended by education officials, school heads, community leaders, and students. In a speech read on her behalf, the Vice President explained that mastering ICT skills from a young age could enhance creativity and problem-solving abilities, equipping the youth with essential tools to thrive in modern workplaces and global job markets.
The Vice President pledged to establish strategically located ICT laboratories across all regions to strengthen ICT education, starting at the basic school level and supporting advanced research at the tertiary level. The laboratories' infrastructure would serve as vibrant hubs for critical thinking and innovation, providing hands-on experience and access to cutting-edge technology through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. For girls, in particular, the labs would offer a transformative opportunity to close the gender gap in STEM fields.
'Early exposure to technology and STEM activities can build confidence, dismantle stereotypes, and motivate girls to envision careers in areas traditionally underrepresented by women, such as engineering, computer science, and scientific research. Ultimately, this investment will empower a new generation of female leaders and innovators to contribute meaningfully to Ghana's socio-economic development,' she explained.
The Vice President encouraged the students to take their academic lessons seriously and perform well in their exams, reminding them that education remains the foundation for raising responsible, successful adults who can contribute meaningfully to society. She also reiterated the government's commitment to improving education infrastructure across the country, with the goal of providing free and quality education to every child.
Mrs. Beatrice Mensah, a teacher at Presby 'B' basic school, expressed gratitude on behalf of all the beneficiary schools, noting that the computers would greatly enhance the schools' ICT lessons and help students embrace technology and meet academic challenges more effectively. A student from Zion Girls School, Ms. Ama Monnie, shared her excitement, saying the new computers would transform how she and her classmates learn, making lessons more interactive and accessible. 'These computers are the keys to unlocking our potential and building our dreams,' Ms. Monnie said.
