Christopher Jator Njechu
24 January 2008
A US-based organisation, Technology Outreach Project, TOP, in collaboration with the US Montgomery County Public Schools recently donated 1,000 computers to some schools and councils in Cameroon.
Half of the computers will be used in councils in civil registration services while the other half will be used in primary, secondary schools and public offices.The machines are intended to equip multimedia centres, contribute in offering basic training in information technology and be used also as educative resources in primary and secondary schools.
The objective of the gifts is to contribute to the fight against fraud, through the creation of a central data for civil registration in councils and facilitate the treatment of teachers' salaries at the Ministry of Secondary Education.
The project to bring the computers to Cameroon received support from the President of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, Issa Hayatou, along with the philanthropic activities of TOP and its founding member Cameroon-born Yakoubou Ousmanou.
Yakoubou, who is a computer engineer, said manufacturing companies gave him the computers on expressed request. It was also disclosed that TOP is a personal initiative and intends to develop partnership with the Ministry of Basic Education.
According to the terms of contracts with actors in the distribution chain, the CAF boss will distribute 75 computers to the network of Franco-Arab schools in Adamawa, North, and the Far North while the Cameroon Peace Corps will deliver five each to Dschang University and GSS Batibo.
Earlier on the US Ambassador, Janet Garvey, said once the joint donation of technology reaches schools throughout Cameroon, students will receive exposure to skills needed in the reality of today's fast-growing technological environment.
She said installing the computers at the civil registries in Bamenda, Douala, Buea, Bafoussam and Yaounde will have a specific touch on the lives of thousands of people. Garvey said "at present, births, deaths and marriages are documented manually in registry books, at the more than 330 registries throughout Cameroon... The current manual environment, in which citizens and registrars operate, has helped fuel a system that is rife with fraud and corruption."
She said the electronic recording of these government documents may eventually lead to automation of all registries across the country and the creation of a central system where documents can be verified.
The Ambassador said mastery of basic computer skills solidifies a link between present and future generations around the world. Appropriate integration of online instructional resources in school curricula could enhance the learning environment and respond effectively to different learning styles.
The computer, she stressed, opens doors to communication, research, opportunities and the goal is for the user to become an explorer, an active seeker of information.While receiving the gifts, Haman Adama expressed gratitude on behalf of the Cameroon Government and said the computers will reach the required destination and serve the desired purpose.
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