India has partnered the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence to develop free software products to substitute expensive ones which impede teaching of ICT in schools across the country.

High cost involved in procuring software and use of pirated versions have over the years posed a challenge to school authorities in terms of the effectiveness of teaching and learning of ICT especially in the rural areas.

Director-General of Kofi Annan ICT Centre, Kwasi Adu-Gyan believes the initiative will help bridge the technology illiteracy gap among the youth.

“India has successfully developed Eduboard which is a variant of their board’s operating system. So we thought it wise to invite them so that we could develop the same system”, Adu-Gyan said.

Kennedy Asiwie, one of the developers of the operating system, told JoyNews the innovation will accelerate science and technology education.

“Some of our science laboratories in secondary schools don’t have most of the basic apparatus needed to carry out activities. But this software has been embedded in the systems to help us get a practical view of it”, he said.

The project upon completion will be piloted in Bolgatanga Senior High School (SHS), T.I. Ahmadiyya Primary and Junior High School (SHS), Zuarungu SHS in the Upper East Region.