The Amasaman Senior High Technical School (AMASTEC) on Wednesday received 20 pieces of laptops from the Israeli Embassy as part of efforts to contribute to the Ministry of Education’s ICT in Education Policy.
The project, replicated in two other senior high technical schools, namely Tema Manhean Senior High Technical School and Walewale Senior High Technical School, among other things, aims at enhancing ICT education among students.
The installation of the equipment began in December 2021 and was completed in January 2022 by IPMC.
Each classroom has been named after one of the seven species of the land of Israel, and they are Olive Class in Amasaman Senior High Technical School, Barley Class in Walewale Senior High Technical School, and Wheat Class in Tema Manhean Senior High Technical School.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the Deputy Minister of Education, John NtimFordjour, expressed gratitude to the Israeli Embassy in Ghana for its continuous demonstration of commitment in partnering with the government, especially through education for national development.
For him, the launch of education for digital innovation programme by the government which was targeted at enhancing ICT education among students was timely as it would equip schools with updated information technology.
“It will play a strategic role to support government’s vision of empowering human capital and providing conducive learning environment for our learners,” he stated.
He said his outfit was more than committed to pursuing STEM education to equip learners with the 21st century skills required to drive the country into economic prosperity beyond aid.
He said the STEM was designed to start from basic schools under which essential equipment, including robotics kits, electronics, and computers would be provided.
“The Ministry of Education is building 11 model state of the art STEM senior high schools across the country, each of which shall be equipped with 12 laboratories that will be one of the best in the world.”
“In addition, a STEM pathway will be established in some existing senior high schools, which will benefit from an additional four laboratories,” he noted.
He used the opportunity to encourage the schools to judiciously utilise the equipment to the benefit of all students.
ShlomutSufa, Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, in her remarks said her government was interested in the education sector of the country.
She said their goals were to share relevant knowledge and technical know-how that would contribute to the development of the education sector in Ghana, be it training of professionals or facilitating for infrastructural projects.
For instance, between 2008 and 2016, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation collaborated with the Ghana Education Service and the Millennium Cities initiatives to successfully implement the Early Childhood Education Programme in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale.
That, she said saw the training of professional teachers and education directors travelling to Israel to attend tailor-made courses on Early Childhood Education adding that its implementation was very impactful.
She appealed to the students to take advantage of the opportunity and build their ICT skills.
Ms. Irene Ocansey, headmistress of the school, thanked the Embassy for the initiative and called on corporate bodies to emulate the Embassy by making similar presentations.