The Ministry of Education, yesterday, handed out 500 computers to schools under the 9-Year-Basic Education Program (9-YBE), which were recently upgraded to provide 12 years of basic education.

110 were given to identified schools of excellence, most of which have established computer laboratories and teach science subjects, but lack computers.

Others were distributed to 76 schools countrywide that have electricity connection. Those that lack electricity would be catered for after they acquire solar energy.

"We have a vision, where every 12 year-basic school will have a fully equipped computer laboratory, library and a kindergarten,” said State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Mathias Harebamungu.

"People will never doubt the quality of these schools or their capacity to teach sciences after this computer distribution program is complete”.

The minister stressed that the equipment were intended for students, not exclusively for school authorities.

"You have to ensure that the computers are put to good use by the students to facilitate their mastery of science and technology. They are not for your offices, or to be misused.”

Beneficiaries were subsequently advised to purchase power saving devises to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, which is preferable for the good use of computers.

Harebamungu urged the schools to improvise on developing computer laboratories by allocating special rooms from their already complete study blocks for the cause. This way, they would be able to draw more government support in ICT.

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