ICT To Every School Should Be Possible- Vice Chancellor

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof Clifford Tagoe, has appealed to the government to bring Information Communication Technology (ICT) to the doorstep of all educational institutions regardless of location or social standing.

He said this requires the political will to take decisions that will improve the educational system and ensure the nation's progress and socio-economic development.

Prof Tagoe said this at the third congregation and eight matriculation of the Catholic University College of Ghana (CUCG) at Fiapre near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.

In all, 92 students graduated for the 2007/2008 academic year while 176 fresh students were admitted.

The Vice Chancellor said it is crucial for 'young people to gain access to technological tools and net works of knowledge sharing that open the door to participation in knowledge sharing societies'.

Prof Tagoe appealed to the government to put in place measures to ensure that teachers are well trained and motivated while students have greater access to facilities and technology which will instill in them a lifelong love of learning.

That will also prepare them to place greater emphasis on personal initiative and entrepreneurship for the attainment of life-skills and social competence.

He suggested to the CUCG to consider the introduction of distance learning programmes to serve large number of qualified persons who each year fail to gain admission to pursue higher education.
He said other prospective students whose work schedules do not enable them to take time off to pursue university level programmes can also take advantage of it.

Prof James Hawkins Ephraim, Vice Chancellor of the CUCG, said the expansion of the University has been made possible because of the quality and relevant academic programmes and training that are being offered for the holistic moral , mental, psychological and physical development of the students to meet changing needs of the society.

Most Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu ,chairman of the University's board of trustees and Archbishop of Konongo-Mampong ,said the CUCG was established in fulfillment of the church's evangelising mission that has both spiritual and a material dimension.

Most Reverend Leon B Kalega, the Apostolic Nuncio in Ghana, commended the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference for establishing the University and development projects being undertaken to enhance teaching and learning.

He appealed to the government to widen and tar the narrow and dusty stretch of road that leads to the University campus from Fiapre.