Over 8,000 school children in Sekyedumase and surrounding communities in the Ejura/Sekyedumase Municipality of the Ashanti Region have received a model 48-seater computer laboratory to enhance the teaching and learning of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), English, Math and Science plus a 4-seater Community Business Centre.
The ‘Yamoransa Model Lab-3 Project’, as it is called, is being facilitated by two US- based NGOs – The Friends of Yamoransa and Helping Africa Foundation in response to a social media post by by Mr. Richard Akoto Appiah, a teacher of the Betenase M. A. School, exhibiting his teaching efforts in ICT.
The other beneficiary communities are Sekyedumase, Apaaso, Ayinaso, Drobon, Frante and Juaho
Social media impact
Mr Appiah’s social media post, which attracted global attention, showed a detailed drawing of Microsoft Word on a blackboard, which he was using to teach his pupils.
The scenario exhibited by him indicated his passion for teaching and immense creativity to provide vital knowledge to his students, even with the simple means available to him at the time.
Dr. Deborah Rose, the President of Friends of Yamoransa, and Daniel Rose, Founder of Helping Africa Foundation, in response and for their love for Computer Literacy Programmes, initiated and coordinated the funding for the project to enhance the teaching and learning of ICT.
Dr Rose, in her address said, the effort of setting-up these Model Labs began with a mandate by the Ministry of Education, Ghana, to educate young in the emerging fields of ICT, even when the technology itself was not yet widely distributed.
She realized that their way of working fits well within the United Nations framework of the Sustainable Development Goals and satisfies several of its components that include: asking communities to identify their greatest needs; doing a needs assessment; developing a proposal for installing appropriate technology; installation; training the teachers; teaching the students; and evaluating the program.
“We also quickly realized the importance of including multiple generations in our process such as the elderly, working and young people.
Mr. Japhet Aryiku, Executive Director of Helping Africa Foundation, believed the computer lab will help residents in the area to become proficient in computing, and could help in terms of job search efforts.
According to him, the lab would not only benefit students in computing studies, but other subjects especially English, Science, and Mathematics.
Appreciation
Mr. Mohammed Salisu Bamba, Ejura/Sekyedumase Municipal Chief Executive thanked the Friends of Yamoransa and Helping Africa Foundation for the kind gesture, and TECHAiDE for installing their unique low voltage and robust computing technology, as it will go a long way to benefit the entire municipality and promised to ensure that the facility is used for its intended purpose and properly maintained.