A Ghanaian businessman based in the United States of America, Isaac Kwabena Newlove, has donated 12 computers and accessories, 2 printers, speakers, and 3 projectors worth millions of cedis to the Jimiso Methodist Primary/KG School in the Obuasi East District.
The donation was intended to boost the teaching and learning of information and communication technology (ICT) in the school.
According to Mr. Newlove, his attention was drawn to the plight of most Ghanaian public schools in accessing ICT materials after watching a documentary on YouTube. He said that he was always willing to assist in improving education in his native Jimiso.
He said that currently, the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, though a relatively young sector in Ghana, has become a burgeoning sector that is expanding the national economy, attracting investment into the country, providing job opportunities, and enhancing productivity.
He called on the school authorities to make the teaching of ICT a major priority in the school by taking advantage of the computers he had donated.
The Obuasi East District Education Director, Kwabena Owusu Nketia, lauded Isaac Kwabena Newlove for the donation, stressing that it would go a long way to support the teaching and learning of ICT in the school.
He said that although the District Assembly, the Member of Parliament, and AngloGold Ashanti had been actively supporting education in the district, it was important for other stakeholders, including individuals and groups, to also come on board to assist in improving the standard of education in the district.
On the state of education in the district, the Education Director revealed that the Directorate’s program to improve the reading abilities of school children at the basic level, which was introduced last year, has started bearing fruits.
He said, “Hitherto, 52% and 64% of pupils at the basic level could read in English and Twi, respectively. But now, due to our 100-day reading program, 95% of children can read English materials, while 86% of them can read in Twi.”
Ruth Ofori, the Headmistress of Jimiso Methodist Primary/KG School, also thanked the donor for his gesture. She said that the computers had come as a huge relief to both teachers and pupils since the school had been grappling with the inadequate number of computers to aid the teaching of ICT.
She appealed to the government to put up a library in the school to enhance the reading abilities of the pupils.