Wa, Nov 28, GNA - Force Foundation, a Non Governmental Organisation, in the

Netherlands, has provided a computer learning centre and a studio for the Wa Methodist

School for the Blind to help sharpen the skills of the students and their teachers in ICT. The multi-million dollar facilities would encourage the visually impaired students to

develop the habit of reading and writing as well as carrying out research through the use of

ICT. It would also provide an opportunity for both the teachers and students to become more

articulate and resourceful in their teaching and learning processes. Speaking at the inauguration of the facility, at the weekend, at Wa, the headmaster, Mr.

Sampson Akurugu, commended the Force Foundation for providing such an important

facility for the school. He said the Foundation was also instrumental in the acquisition of equipment by

providing 10 of the computers and paying for the installation of a Vodafone Broadband

internet facility. The Headmaster also thanked UNESCO and the Ghana Society for the blind for

supporting them with additional computers. He said the outstanding challenge was how to get funds to maintain the facility and urged

the District Assembly to help them in that regard. Mr. Mahmud Khalid, the Upper West Regional Minister, who inaugurated the facility,

expressed dissatisfaction with the marginal attention parents give to their visually impaired

children. "Most parents see them as burden and only attend to their needs occasionally or when

the needs of the able-bodied children have been met," he stressed. He said his office was aware of the numerous issues confronting the School, especially in

the areas of land encroachment, compensation of land owners and inadequate infrastructure,

and assured them of an amicable solution very soon. He praised the School for scoring 100 per cent in the Basic Education Certificate

Examination (BECE) in the past few years. Mr. Duogu Yakubu, the Wa Municipal Chief Executive, said the Assembly was prepared

to support the school to progress to an enviable position in the country. He further stated that the Assembly would provide, without delay, a KVIP facility for the

school. Mr. Matthijs Balfoort, Executive Director of the Force Foundation, pledged the

Foundation's continuous support for the school and urged the staff and students to put the

facility to good use.