Microsoft to bolster ICT education in Ghana

Accra, March 6, GNA - Ghana on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft Corporation, thus joining the world computer giant's 'Partners in Learning Programme' to receive resources for training in Information and Communication Technology.

Vice President Aliu Mahama signed for Ghana while Mr Emre Berkin, Senior Vice President of Microsoft endorsed it for his side. Under the programme, Microsoft would provide resources for the next five years to cover training, technical support and broader access to information technology to students and teachers in Ghana.

Additionally, it would facilitate ICT integration into school curricula; provide support for teacher training as well as student education in software development and research work into ICT. All educational institutions in Ghana are potential beneficiaries of the computer literacy and skills learning programmes.

There are 12,000 primary schools, 7,000 junior secondary schools, 480 senior secondary schools, 23 technical institutions, 29 vocational schools, five universities and 10 polytechnics in the public sector.

The agreement will also lead to the establishment of Microsoft IT academies, providing free upgrades to Window XP Professional for all new PCs purchased with Windows Home Edition and providing operating systems to some category of PCs donated to schools.

Vice President Mahama commended Microsoft for the support, saying it was in line with the Government's agenda to use ICT as a catalyst to achieve sustainable development.

He commended Microsoft, the world's largest company in ICT, for its commitment to use technology as a tool to bring development to all parts of the world.

"We are particularly excited by Microsoft's desire to do more to support the provision of health care," he said. Vice President Mahama appealed to Microsoft to assist Ghana to access agricultural machinery and medical equipment for health delivery, drugs and medical research.

Mr Berkin announced that Microsoft would set up a computer laboratory at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to offer training in software development.

The proposed laboratory would be equipped with latest technology to facilitate service delivery through the building of personal websites and other software systems to promote development.

In an interview with the GNA, Mr Ohene Aku Kwapong, World-wide Public Sector Controller of Microsoft, said the financial package under the agreement was enormous.

However, he said, the programme would be performance-based, therefore, Ghana's allocation would increase in line with the Government's ability to include more schools in the programme. Microsoft has budgeted 250 million dollars for the programme worldwide, and would spend over 70 million dollars this year.