CAPE COAST MP DONATES COMPUTERS TO SCHOOLS

By: Ryan Millward

Schoolchildren in Cape Coast will now have better educational facilities with the donation of twenty computers and two printers, all funded by the MP’s share of the common fund.

Member of Parliament, Ebo Barton Odoro, used the fund to donate computers to help aid students in developing their ICT skills and potentials; it is now the fourth time in recent years that schools in the area have been given a new lease of educational life with new technology being installed.

During the presentation of the computers it was consistently pointed out the importance of providing local educational services with fully working computers as to lead the way forward with modern technology whilst developing crucial skills. Ebo Barton Odoro said at the presentation: “Education has come to another level with ICT and we need to catch the children young and in that respect I have made this donation of computers to local schools.” He continued: “It’s a great day today, I think this donation will go a long way to help the students in these schools to acquire skills in ICT, if I had the means I would make sure every student receives these kind of skills, this basic training will help to develop youth for the future.”

The Member of Parliament Hon. Barton Odoro shown an excitement in the donation, one that was equally matched by the people receiving the computers; the Heads of Effutu Secondary Technical High and Ola Boarding Junior High school expressed their joy. The Head of Effutu Secondary said: “Now we have the internet and the strength now, it’s going to help us so much, I’m so much excited about it. I pray the good lord gives us so much strength”.

There is inescapably a feel good factor about the new installation of computer technology. Computers, in 2011, are a key asset to schools and places of learning; they yield the power to provide skills and education to a higher level that will help students reach further places in their working life. The Internet will provide these students with the tools to network, with the software also developing their basic computer skills.

However, whilst this is certainly a point to celebrate, Member of Parliament Ebo Barton Odoro expressed that more plans and donations must be implemented as to keep improving the quality of local education. With this thought the Member of Parliament told of plans to donate computers to the children’s library that is currently in construction. He also plans to make more computers available at the Science Resource Centre where he plans to develop and E-library so there is E-learning available to the students.

Ebo Barton Odoro told how the system can still be improved to help aid students further. He pointed out: “The system needs to run better, I know of some computers being donated then taken back.” “In one village a citizen donated some computers but there was no national grid connected to the village so they couldn’t run.” He added: “In response to this, I made available a metre to the village so that the computers in the school could run”.

Again, this goes to show that there are people working hard in helping provide schoolchildren with the necessary equipment to help develop their potentials and skills. The donation of these twenty computers and two printers  will serve as a reminder that there is good work being done in steering students toward success. The local government will now look to the future to keep addressing these issues and providing educational equipment.