USAID hands over ICT projects to schools
The USAID Transition and Persistence (TAP) Project, in Partnership with Plan Ghana, has handed over Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centres of excellence, library and sanitation facilities to schools in six districts in the Eastern Region and the Ghana Education Service at a ceremony in Koforidua.
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The beneficiary schools are New Somanya Methodist, Okwenya M/A, Trom-Koforidua M/A, Adawso Presby, Akumersu D/A, and South Senchi L/A JHS in the Yilo Krobo, Lower Manya Krobo, New Juaben, Akuapem North, Upper Manya Krobo and Asuogyaman districts respectively.
The occasion was also used to award the best male and female teachers in each of the six Ghana TAP schools in the Eastern Region.
They were Eugenia Nyampong of Odumase Akro JHS, Wise Dorgbetter of Agomanya Methodist JHS, both in Lower Manya Krobo Municipality; Mr Frank Narh Agbuglah of Wurapong M.A JHS, Evelyn Osabutey of Adjikpo-Dokuyo M/A JHS in Yilo Krobo Municipality; Mrs Ethel Naa Ayeley Ayitiah of Akropong School for the Blind, M. Ernest Siaw Kwakye of Larteh Presby JHS both in Akuapem North Municipality; Mr Boakye Acheampong of Asokore SDA Demonstration JHS, and Ms Patience Ntim from New Juaben Municipality.
The rest were Ms Jennifer Martey of Fefe D/A JHS, Mr Eric Amoako Adjei of Dawatrim R/C JHS, Upper Manya Krobo; Ms Augusta Etornam Adiamah of South Senchi L/A JHS and Mr Job Asare of Asikuma L/A JHS, both from Asuogyaman District.
Each received a laptop computer.
As part of the TAP interventions, a school excellence award was instituted to, among others, identify and give public recognition to an outstanding public school in each of the 13 districts where the USAID- funded programme took place.
Addressing the gathering at the handover ceremony, the Country Director of Plan Ghana, Mr Prem Shukla, explained that the USAID JHS Project is a three-year (2010-2013) project being undertaken in partnership with Plan Ghana.
The project, he said, sought to increase junior high school enrolment and completion rates in 156 JHS in 13 districts selected from Brong Ahafo, Central, Eastern, and Greater Accra regions.
He said he was pleased with the repairs of school blocks, the construction of ICT centres of excellence, and the construction of KVIPs to improve sanitation in the beneficiary schools and the communities.
“Our children have a right to dignified environment to pursue their education and I believe with this new blocks, more students will be enrolled to exercise their rights to education and in a safe environment to develop into useful citizens in future, ” he stressed
Mr Shukla implored the School Management Committees (SMCs) of the beneficiary schools to uphold a strict maintenance culture to preserve the facilities.
The Chief of Party of Ghana TAP Project, Mr Raphael Bokumah, said Plan Ghana was seeking to build on the achievements of the TAP Project. To that end, it was seeking new funding opportunities, especially under the “Save the Future Programme through schools” and “Educate a child initiative” in order to reach more people.
He added that Plan Ghana was looking forward to similar highly valued projects from USAID to support the training of community members in the school management committees, the schools and teacher award schemes, as well as the children’s clubs, which would enable the Schools and the communities to do their best.
The Eastern Regional Director of Education, Ms Adriana Kandilinge, was grateful to the Ghana TAP Project, USAID, and Plan Ghana for their assistance to the six districts and urged the students to make good use of the facilities.
The Chief of Trom-Koforidua, who chaired the function, pledged the communities’ support and co-operation to ensure good maintenance of the facilities.
By Ezekiel E. Sottie/Daily Graphic/Ghana
