Friends of Yamoransa Foundation (FYF) and Helping Africa Foundation (HAF), in collaboration with the office of Samira Bawumia, have commissioned a computer lab for Choggu Demonstration School in the Sagnarigu Municipality of the Northern Region.

The 56-seater model lab dubbed “Yamoransa Model Lab-4"  was funded by HAF and FYF – both non-profit organizations – and installed by TECHAiDE to enhance the teaching and learning of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), English, Mathematics and Science.

The facility will benefit over 8,000 children from the host school and nine other surrounding schools.

Each of the computers installed at the Lab has 30 pieces of educational software for Primary and Junior High Schools to help with the teaching of Science, Technology, English and Mathematics (STEM).

TECHAiDE, which buys and instals the new and innovative technology, the ASANKA, installed the learning software on the computers.

ASANKA provides free access to educational contents using any wifi-enabled device like a phone, tablet, laptop, or computer with a wireless card.

The current version of the ASANKA installed on the computers has over 500 educational books, videos, Basic Education Certificate Examination past questions for all subjects from 2010 to 2018.

Samira Bawumia said ICT continues to play an important role globally in the delivery of services to achieving broad socio-economic goals in education, health, employment and social development.

She said many children in the deprived areas of Ghana have little or no access to ICT as a result of lack of infrastructure and inadequate skilled personnel.

"As a nation, we owe a duty to the next generation, and that duty is to commit ourselves to the growth and development of our children,” she said.

President of FYF and HAF, Dr Deborah Rose, said in response and for their love for Computer Literacy Programmes initiated and coordinated the funding for the project to enhance the teaching and learning of ICT.

She said the process to set-up the model labs was influenced by the mandate by the Ministry of Education to educate the youth in the emerging fields of ICT.

Dr Rose said the educational philosophy of the United States embraces the general liberal arts education, encompassing the humanities, the social and natural sciences, rather than strictly technical or pre-professional training which was the best preparation to become citizens of the world.

Executive Director of HAF, Mr Japhet Aryiku said the essential mission of the foundation is to work to improve the education, health and social welfare conditions of persons in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Ghana.

He said the Lab dedication was in line with the mission and vision  of Dr Rose to promote and spread Computer Literacy throughout the Ghanaian primary school system, adding, "this is the 4th Lab that we have built in Ghana."

Mr Aryiku said the Yamoransa Model Lab is a development strategy by HAF and FYF to support and assist projects that are driven by the local community and that leaders in Ghana must be fully committed to supporting the project.

Mrs Mariam Iddrisu, Municipal Chief Executive for Sagnarigu said, the Municipality was changing trends and taking great strides in the field of education by making basic education affordable and accessible to all.

Other dignitaries present were Alhaji Mohammed Haroon, Northern Regional Director of Education, Chiefs, Mr Anis Haffar, Council Member of the Ghana Education Service and other Directors.

The project is being managed by  IMPLEMENTERS, a project management non-profit firm, with its technology partners, TECHAiDE, who have over ten years experience in technology projects globally.

Samira Bawumia, Mrs Mariam Iddrisu,  Dr Debora Rose and MCE for Sagnarigu unveiling the plaque to commission the ICT Center.