To bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) training, the College of Science, KNUST has initiated a hands-on training in ICT for Ayeduase R/C Junior High School.
In an exclusive interview with the Provost of the College, Prof. Mrs. Ibok Oduro, she revealed that the maiden training emanated from a Science and Technology for Girls project for the school by a team of DANIDA alumni in collaboration with the College and supported by the Danida Fellowship Centre under the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She said the team realised during the engagement with the school that among other challenges, lack of infrastructure/ equipment for hands-on practice in ICT reflected in the poor performance of the students in the course. Thus, after consultations with the Computer Science Department, the school’s ICT teacher and other educators, a curriculum for the practical training was developed. The instituted monthly training was first held in August, 2018 and the third session took place this November for all 3rd and 2nd year students.
Advising the pupils, Prof. Oduro encouraged them to utilise the opportunity to make a difference in their performance in ICT as well as other subjects.
She called for further support from all stakeholders to extend the training to the other public basic schools in the KNUST environs.
During interactions, the pupils bemoaned lack of computers in their school and indicated this problem as the cause of poor performance in Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E) particularly, ICT. They expressed gratitude to the initiators of the project and the University and promised to take their studies seriously.
The Lead facilitator for the project is Dr. Edward Ansong and Dr. Abena Boakye is the Project Coordinator.