Microsoft to partner Ghana in ICT development

Ghana's Ministry of Education and the US-based Microsoft Corporation, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) capacity of teacher trainees in Ghana, according to the reports of the Ghana News Agency on Thursday.

 The MoU, which was signed on Wednesday, will also enable Microsoft to develop a software to support teaching and learning in all schools in the country.

 The signing of the deal was in recognition of the importance of ICT in school development and teaching and learning.

 The MoU was a renewal of the 2004 agreement between the two sides, which resulted in the establishment of three information technology academies at the universities of Cape Coast, Education and Development Studies.

The program has led to the training of 300 teachers at all levels of basic education.

Joseph Annan, the deputy minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education, signed on behalf of Ghana while Ali Faramawy, vice president of Middle East and Africa of Microsoft Corporation, initialed on behalf of his organization.

Annan said support for the development of ICT benchmarks for teachers and students is a challenge facing the country's educational sector.

He said the his ministry is committed to ensuring that all educational institutions use common licensed software to facilitate easy access to the software industry to impact on development.

The deputy minister called on Microsoft to consider developing a special ICT software package for the special needs of students in Ghana to enhance teaching and learning.