Ahamefula Ogbu
20 November 2007
Port Harcourt — A Non governmental Organisation, "MIND Foundation" has carried the campaign to bridge the Information Technology (IT) divide to secondary schools in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where students are taught how to tap into the information super highway. The three-day workshop was held at the Community Secondary School,Amadiama.
The organisation, which had in the past, formed students into cells to impart skills that would make them fit into the oil and gas sector of the economy, said the effort was its own response to checking militancy in the Niger Delta.
Chief Executive of the Foundation, Mr. Emeka Ene said lap top computers would be donated to those who complete the programme. "Exposing the students early in life to the IT world will bridge the divide between them and their counterparts in other parts of the world. What we are doing is to ensure that they not only become knowledgeable, but also competitive in any environment they find themselves. We also impart some skills like tie and die and inculcate in them leadership qualities that will enable them value community service, self esteem and steer clear of wrong societal values for a peaceful and fulfilled tomorrow", Ene said.
Director of the foundation, Ms Ilere Iluebbey said vtheir target was to arm the youths in the country and later the continent. she said they were targeting children in public schools within the age brackets of 10 and 15 and grade seven for the programmes designed to also impart vocational skills.
"The implication on the education system is the adoption of innovative methods that will lead to improved student performance and enhanced skills and competencies, as opposed to the accumulation of just factual knowledge.
"The Foundation's focus is in three main areas namely ICT, Leadership and Values training, and Vocational skills. Thirty students participated in the programme. With the help of their tutors constructed and mounted five black boards and a notice board for the school principal as part of their community service.
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