With an effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of equal access to education (SDG 4) and Gender equity (SDG 5), the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization has planned to distribute hundred (100) laptops to girls-In-ICT in the Eastern region.
The Ministry has introduced Girls-in-ICT initiative in 2012 as part of measures to bridge the Gender Digital gap existing within the ICT sector.
The Ministry is focused to empower young girls and uplift their level of education through ICT.
The Programs Officer at the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization, Mr Isaac Newton explained that the initiative was introduced to help improve the knowledge of students on the new digitalization economy.
Speaking to the newsmen after the first day workshop for ICT teachers in the Eastern region, Mr Isaac Newton said the ministry has targeted to train thousand students in the eastern region.
He stated that the ministry through Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) is constructing modern ICT labs for schools in the country.
Mr Isaac Newton added that the ministry is committed to spread and advance the knowledge of ICT among young girls at the various junior schools in deprived areas in Ghana.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Seth Kwame Acheampong in his speech said that the initiative is an opportunity for girls to be exposed to ICT at an early stage and enable them gain an experience with the basics of computers.
He said that the initiative will help guide young girls to choose courses and subjects relating to their career development in the future.
Hon. Seth Acheampong extoled the teachers who have accepted the call to be worthy ambassadors of the girls-in-ICT program to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills and extend it to girls at the various schools.
‘‘The girls cannot gain these experiences on their own without the guidance and directions of their own ICT teachers who they are familiar with and can confide in when it comes to the impartation of knowledge, skills and abilities,’’ said Hon. Seth Acheampong.
He continued that this generation is governed by, among other things, the internet and there is a need to give them the necessary skills and opportunities to create wealth and secure their future.
Hon. Seth Acheampong averred that ICT has changed how people live and it has become a tool for economic, interpersonal, societal transactions and interactions.
‘‘It is important that we understand the rudiments of ICT so that it can be used to our advantage now and in the future,’’ he added.
On behalf of the Programs Manager at Ghana-India Kofi Anan Center of Excellence in ICT, Madam Priscila Hope said that the that the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization is extending education on basic introduction to ICT, web development, animation and game development, and introduction to coding through the ICT teachers to the students.
She urged the students to use their phones purposely for learning in and learn the importance of social media.
Madam Priscila Hope said that the initiative was to inspire the girls at various schools in the country.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Solomon Nartey
