Schools in Wa Municipality Receive Support to Overcome Challenges in ICT Education

Schools in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region have received essential support to overcome their challenges in a significant stride towards enhancing the quality of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education.

The introduction of ICT into various schools has faced formidable challenges, notably the scarcity of computers and the required skills for teachers.

Recognizing the need for change, schools in the Konta and Sawaba circuits have been provided with two state-of-the-art ICT laboratories, each equipped with 15 computers, aimed at elevating the standard of ICT education.

This transformation has been made possible through the dedicated efforts of the African Bicycle Contribution Foundation.

To further empower teachers and bridge the digital divide, the Foundation organized an intensive workshop, aptly named “Collaboration for IT and Communications Excellence.”

This workshop equipped teachers with the essential skills to tackle the challenges of teaching ICT.

Sadat Banbil, the program overseer, emphasized the significance of this initiative in reducing the educational gap between underprivileged communities and urban centers.

The Foundation’s journey began after conducting a comprehensive survey in the Nabdan district of the Northern Region, which revealed a significant lack of computers for teaching and learning.

Banbil expressed optimism that this support would empower teachers to return to the classroom and have a positive impact on students, ultimately leading to improv performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

Teachers on the ground have highlighted the challenges they’ve faced in teaching ICT.

Mr. Hanif Umar explained the difficulties arising from inadequate computers, recounting that he had to teach 40 students in a class with just one computer.

He also pointed out that the absence of electricity in many schools was a major hindrance to ICT learning.

Moreover, teachers expressed their struggles in preparing electronic lesson notes due to the shortage of resources such as computers, textbooks, and the necessary ICT skills.

Madam Iddrisu Rahmata, another dedicated teacher, stressed the enduring importance of ICT in education and the urgent need to establish fully functioning computer laboratories while equipping teachers with the essential skills to confidently teach the subject.

She emphasized that despite her commitment, inadequate computers made it challenging to teach ICT.

Rahmata also lamented the lack of electricity in certain schools and the inability of schools to cover their electricity bills if they were connected to the national grid. She urged the government to prioritize ICT teachers by organizing training workshops to equip themto deliver excellent learning outcomes.

Nuhu Ishmail, the coordinator for the Wa Municipal Education Directorate, reaffirmed their commitment to providing teachers with basic ICT knowledge. He detailed initiatives like workshops that expose teachers to modern ICT skills, enabling them to prepare electronic lesson notes, which have replaced traditional lesson notebooks, thereby enhancing lesson delivery.

Ishmail highlighted the growing importance of electronic lesson notes but pointed out that many teachers lack the necessary skills to create them.

He explained that efforts are underway to bring teachers up to speed in electronic lesson note preparation, with support from collaborators like the Bicycle Contribution Foundation.

He appealed to the government to assist in connecting schools to the national grid, enabling the use of electronic devices for administrative work and ICT teaching.

As these collaborative efforts continue to empower ICT education in the Wa Municipality, the future promises a more tech-savvy and digitally equipped generation, with improved prospects for students and teachers alike.