Datalink holds graduation ceremony

Tema, Sept. 26, GNA - Dr. Geoge Kwame Anning, Director of the Animal Research Institute, has stressed the need for schools to be provided with information communication technology ICT infrastructure This, he said, will enable majority of Ghanaians to join the information highway, which was now an important tool for national and individual development.

"We are now in an age where ICT has become an important tool for learning and development and it is important that we equip our your properly with it, he added.

Dr Anning made the call at the fourth graduation ceremony for 176 students of Datalink Institute at Tema over the weekend. The graduates, most of whom were female, went through various programmes, including a three-month course in international degree and software programmes.

Established in 1993, Datalink, a charitable organisation, aimed at ensuring resources for education for as many Ghanaians as possible to become computer literate at affordable cost, has to date, trained over one million people.

Dr. Anning commended the founding fathers of the institute for their foresight and initiative.

Dr. Anning announced that discussions are ongoing with the national accreditation board (NAB) to equate the IDAP and International Degree Business Programme (IDB) of the Institute to the 100 and 200 levels of the country's universities.

He warned that in as much as computers were legitimately used as powerful tools for communication, one needed to be aware of their misuse, especially for profanity, pornography and computing of copyright materials.

The Director therefore urged ICT educators to throw in, a good dose of moral instructions when training the youth. Dr. Anning expressed concern about the high incidence of indiscipline among the youth and said it could be a fall-out of the breakdown of the new education system.

He explained that under the system many children, who could not get the chance to climb the education ladder to the top felt dejected and became easily influenced, adding that by becoming disillusioned and frustrated, most of the children lacked respect for the elderly in society.

"A young person without hope often rebels against anything, if he feels the whole world is against him, he will seek refuge in alcohol and drugs, Dr Anning noted . more

The Tema Municipal Chief Executive, Mr David Quaye Annang identified lack of good role models as one of the reasons why some of the youth are indisciplined and advised the youth to have good role models and to emulate their examples for successful live. He reminded the graduates that their successes in the job market could not be determined by only the skills they have acquired but the way the perceived them.

The MCE therefore, advised them to be honest and diligent in all their endeavours. He said the best way they could also be progressive in life was to collaborate and share the knowledge they have acquired with others on the field.

The MCE announced that the TMA has taken delivery of an ICT mobile van to supplement the training of ICT in schools within the municipality.

In his address, the Director of the school, Mr Ernest Ansah said since its inception in 1993, the school has established computer laboratories in 120 secondary schools in the country, adding that a total of 4,500 computers have so far been supplied to the schools. Mrs. Ingrid Ansah, Director of Administration and Finance said Datalink has paid boarding and lodging fees for over 300 students from poor homes She appealed to all individuals and organisations to support the institute continue to achieve its goals in educating Ghanaians with quality education at an affordable cost."

Jo Hasburg, Life Patron of the institute, praised staff for their dedication and commitment, and urged them not to be complacent but to put in their maximum to help the institute attain greater heights.