SAVANA SIGNATURES TRAINS TEACHERS, STUDENTS IN ICT (PAGE 11, SEPT 1, 2010)

SAVANA Signatures, a non-governemntal organisation (NGO), working in the northern part of Ghana, has commenced a programme to promote the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among teachers and students in the three northern regions.
This follows the realisation that many teachers and students were not well-vexed in ICT which limited their ability to exploit this technology, as well as perform well in ICT examinations.
The NGO is, therefore, organising a series of training programmes to introduce teachers and students to the world of ICT and build their capacity to exploit ICT to facilitate their daily endeavours, particularly in enhancing their studies.
Together with the Community Outreach Programme (COP) of the Radboud University in Netherlands, the NGO organised a three-week intensive training programme for 20 teachers from the Tamale metropolis and Savelugu/Nanton District in the Northern Region.
Two facilitators from the Radboud University, Stephane Hasbach and Daniek Basch took the teachers through various topics including: Basic ICT, Introduction to computers, Keyboard skills, Microsoft Office programmes, Windows and Internet use.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Director of Savana Signatures, Mr Agbenyo John Stephen , noted that ICT was very critical to teaching and learning in the modern day world, adding that “It opens up avenues for greater student-teacher interaction through multimedia devices and also enhances learning through software programmes”.
He mentioned that ICT enables teachers and students to go online to conduct research into areas of study, which opened various sources of information and schools of thought to them.
He, however, contended that knowledge in ICT was not enough to guarantee one’s proficiency in the use of the computer, adding that both teachers and students needed constant practice on the computer so as to master those skills and use them to their benefit.
Mr Stephen, therefore, entreated the government, business entities, philanthropists and development partners to assist schools to acquire computers and other ICT accessories to facilitate the use of ICT.
He said research conducted by Savana Signatures and other partners had revealed that many students in the three northern regions were not prepared to write ICT examinations because they were not conversant with the subject.
“Apart from the fact that the computers are not available to facilitate learning, there are not enough ICT tutors to handle the subject,” he mentioned.