SIX MONTHS after the MTN Foundation commissioned a modern Information Communication Technology (ICT) Centre at the St. Charles Primary School in the Bolgatanga Municipality, the pupils and teachers are fast gaining knowledge and skills on the subject.
Since ICT became an examinable subject in basic schools in Ghana a couple of years ago, most schools, especially those in the rural areas, lack computers to aid in the teaching and learning of the subject. In spite this, candidates sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination are not exempted from writing ICT in their final examinations.
In an exclusive interview, the ICT Teacher of the school, Mr. Samuel K. Awuni, said all the syllabus, from Primary one to six, have been stored on one of the computers connected to a projector and used in teaching the pupils. He said the teaching of ICT has become easy for him, because the centre has cultivated huge interest among the pupils in the learning of the subject.
Meanwhile, his colleague teachers who had little or no knowledge on how to use the computer are now fast becoming ICT geniuses, because the centre is open to them to use in improving their knowledge.
Mr. Awuni is grateful to MTN Foundation for the provision of the ICT Centre, and to the Parent-Teacher Association for purchasing a projector and a printer. According to him, it has become very necessary for the centre to be connected to the internet, and appealed to MTN Foundation to provide an internet service at the centre to give a broader scope in the teaching and learning of ICT. He noted that it would also enable the school to innovate ways of generating revenue to be able to pay electricity bills and maintain the centre.
For the Headteacher, Madam Kumagye Bibiana Weye, the centre will serve, not only her school, but the entire Bolgatanga Central Circuit “A” and other sister schools which may need it for the teaching and learning of ICT. She explained that the PAT Executive took a decision last term that with effect from this term, each pupil should pay GH¢1 per term for ICT. These levies will go into the maintenance of the centre and settlement of electricity bills, while other avenues are explored to keep the centre running.
She said, sometime this week the PTA Executive will meet to discuss a report the school will be presenting on the usage of the centre, adding that the whole of last term, the centre did not give the school any problems. The 20-seater capacity facility, plus a server, cost the MTN Foundation the sum of GH¢128,000. The school’s present population stands at 403 pupils.