�Give Priority To ICT Education In JHS� � Prof Dominic Fobih

A former Education, Science and Sports Minister, Prof Dominic Fobih has raised concerns over the excessive focus on exams in determining one�s mental capability. He noted the differences in the mental abilities of children, hence a better mechanism of determining the capacities should be important. Prof Fobih was on phone interview with rainbowradio.co.uk on the preparedness of our educational system to make Information Communication Technology (ICT) an examinable subject in the basic level of the educational system. A section of the society believes due to the importance of ICT being a driving force in the global environment, it is important to get the children hooked unto it. However, the rural urban drift puts theJunior High School ( JHS) student in the rural and the village settings, at a disadvantaged position. Even though some of them have access to electricity, but have never seen a computer before whereas others have computer laboratories, but no access to electricity. Prof Fobih in his submission demanded the needed infrastructure to still have ICT as an examinable subject irrespective of the current defects within the educational infrastructure. Adding that, the State should set its priorities right and ensure that the needed infrastructure is provided if it sees ICT as vital to the holistic growth of the child. �Redirect your attention to what is important, focus on it, provide the facilities and ensure success�. He added. Adding that, the poor infrastructure should be seen as a challenge and handle it. The Executive Director of the Youth Eye Innovation Foundation, Mr Samuel Awuni, in his submission said, ICT is functional and must not be allowed to determine one�s fate. He noted the absence of ICT teachers in some basic schools and wonders the disadvantages these kids would go through when competing with kids from the cities where all the logistics are available deepening the urban rural divide. �Exams should not redefine one�s ability and the lack of the needed infrastructure should not become a disadvantage to the rural innocent child�, he added. According to Mr Awuni, government must invest some of its loans into the sector as a matter of urgency, disclosing the inherent challenges the rural child faces in bridging the gap in assessing education. In his opinion, ICT should be an examinable subject, but must not be used as a grading subject due to the limitations of the rural child and the government�s inability to provide the needed logistics as it pertains now. Mr Awuni stated that, the current situation is an abuse of the right of the child to quality education and access toof the rural child A retired educationist, Mrs Esther Hamilton called for the suspension of the ICT as an examinable subject until facilities are well put in place. She says, in as much as we need the children to have information about lots of things, we must not impose so many subjects on them so as to get the best out of them especially where the logistics are not available. This she says, tresses the children and could even take their interest out of the classroom more especially, in the socio-economically deprived areas. She said, deprived communities already have many challenges including low enrolment so anything that would further stress them should be reconsidered.