Ghana launches internet laboratories for schools

Accra, Nov. 23, GNA - Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of

Education on Tuesday pledged the commitment of the Ministry to

provide relevant education to all Ghanaians at all levels. He said this would enable them to acquire skills to develop

their potentials to be productive to facilitate poverty reduction and

promote socio-economic growth and national development. "Our aim is to stimulate the production and application of new

ideas that would form the basis of economic development," he

added. Mr Tettey-Enyo made the pledge when addressing the opening

session of the National Instrumental Internet Laboratories Training

programme at Ghana Telecom University College (NI-

iLabs@GTUC) in Accra. The programme promotes a shift from theoretical learning to

practical yet cost effective and reliable sharing of laboratories and

laboratory equipment. The internet laboratories would provide a new way of

implementing traditional laboratories, by allowing laboratory

equipment to be used by students from a distance through the

internet, and gives students the opportunity to perform

experiments on actual laboratory equipment in real time over the

internet. He pointed out that the arrangement would provide

opportunities for students in developing nations to share the use of

facilities and experiences that otherwise were available for the

exclusive use by students and staff of advanced economies. "The advent of remote technologies has succeeded in creating

a level playing ground for competitors in the global village, and

providing similar opportunities for countries ready to take

advantage of the available opportunities,' he added. Mr Tettey-Enyo said this would provide institutions and

education managers adequate resources for all students in their

studies and research activities. The Sector Minister noted that accessing laboratory facilities

through the internet represented another step forward in applying

new technologies in the universities and moving onto a higher wave

of pedagogy and learning. He commended authorities of GTUC for bringing such an

innovative way to enhance education at all levels of the educational

system and called on participating universities to take advantage

and explore the opportunity. Mr Tettey-Enyo reiterated the Ministry's support for the

programme to improve the quantity and quality of research and

development in the country. Dr Osei Darkwa, President of GTUC said introduction of NI-

iLabs would provide students the ability to access and share

physical laboratories with several institutions across the world. He said NI-iLabs could be accessed 24 hours per day, seven

days a week, from any internet connected location without

requiring staff supervision, adding "it is highly immune to wear and

tear, theft, vandalism and could serve millions of students in their

own time". Dr Darkwa pointed out that courses that traditionally had to be

undertaken on campus might now offer distance learning, and

workers who study part-time might find iLabs useful in their

commitments. He called on authorities of tertiary institutions to incorporate

such programmes to enrich science and engineering education in

their institutions and the country.