‘Education stimulates economic growth’
Naval Captain Moses Beick-Baffour, Military Secretary at the Ghana Armed Forces Secretariat, has underscored the importance of education and the usefulness of knowledge to stimulate economic growth and social development in this contemporary information age.
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He noted that the development of computer and information technology were moving at such a fast pace that although it was difficult to keep the pace, the nation could not afford to be left behind. He explained that education had become more important than ever because of the transition from the industrial age to the information age.
Naval Captain Beick-Baffour said this at the homecoming and third Nayo Memorial Lectures at the Bueman Senior High School (BUSEC) at Jasikan in the Volta Region.
The series of lectures are held annually to commemorate the late Christopher Kwaku Nayo, who died 10 years ago.
The school was founded in 1960 by Mr Nayo who was then teaching at the Achimota School in Accra.
Speaking on the topic: "The Impact of Information Technology on Secondary Education in Deprived Communities", Captain Beick-Baffour himself, an old student, said with the advent of the Internet and worldwide web, it would be easier for schools in deprived areas to make use of ICT.
He, therefore, stressed the need for school authorities to have teachers who were knowledgeable in ICT to ensure that the students benefited from it.
This, he said, should be through extensive teacher development, administrative support and funding.
Naval Captain Beick-Baffour explained that this was so because "for our students to be successful, teachers need to be successfully trained in technology, the use of software applications and how to introduce technology into the curriculum".
"Information Technology can help create equitable accessible secondary education systems and students in deprived communities can complete their studies without leaving their communities," he said.
Mr Gordon Ansah, Headmaster of the school, said this year's celebration marked two important occasions, notably the 10th anniversary of the death of the founder, Mr Nayo and the inauguration of an e-library.
Although BUSEC was in a deprived community, Mr Ansah was thankful for the elevation of the school into an A-Class institution, thus attracting staff and students to its fold.
He expressed gratitude to the Bueman Old Students Association (BOSA) for trying to give back to the school what they had taken from it.
He mentioned the provision of a beautiful washroom complex for students and e-library with support from the American Embassy.
The President of the BOSA, Mr Vincent Avornyo, noted that with the revival of the old students association some five years ago, some modest achievements had been made.
This, he said, included the organisation of the school's 50th anniversary in 2010, the school being a benefactor of 60 laptops in 2012, the inauguration of the girls dormitory and offering of three scholarships for students to pursue tertiary courses. Mr Avornyo urged those who would take over from them to steer BOSA to ensure that the association grew from strength to strength to uplift the image of BUSEC.
The Member of Parliament for the Buem Constituency, Mr Daniel Ashiama, said the use of technology was one of the best things science could offer mankind.
He said the use of the Internet had enabled people to access libraries, exchange information, send money across the world and take part in video-conferences.
The MP, however, expressed regret that the opportunities were being abused by cyber crimes, including posting of pornographic materials and damaging people's reputation.
He cautioned that with the introduction of technology in schools, it must be necessary to project its good side and use legislation to suppress the bad side.
