Skip to main content

The struggle is real: Schools need help to deliver ICT education in Zambian schools

My heart bleeds, so this Teacher called me, he narrated how challenging it is for him to teach ICT to hundreds of grade nine students - it is an examination class and he has other subjects to handle, his colleagues are not yet up to the desired level in practical. So the burden is on him. He was trying to find out if we will offer Teaching Support in ICT at their secondary school, this year.
First, I helplessly felt tears running down my cheeks, knowing exactly what he is going through (I cant hold my emotions when it comes to such issues), knowing how eager the children/students are to learn, yet in so difficult circumstances, knowing the struggle the school management embrace to mobilize computers and other essential logistics just to build the future for children in this suburb . I took a deep breath and gave him the good news. "Mr.X, do not worry, things will work as planned earlier. This year, we will assign 2 Teaching Support Volunteers to your school..." I could read across the wires that this is the news this passionate Teacher wanted to hear from me.
Thanks to COP project of Radboud University Nijmegen-The Netherlands, for making it possible. This year, beneficiaries to this project at Kitwe (Youth Skills for Development) will be more than 2000 in total, since 2013. And for 2016, we are thankful and so glad to receive 6 Student Volunteers.
I feel so low today, I have been thinking about how to deliver enhanced ICT education and truly realise it as a catalyst that it is, and influential in the teaching and learning of other subjects. When I look at where we are coming from, where we are and where we are going, the journey is just so thorny... Nevertheless, I remain hopeful.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ENSIBUUKO: BRIDGING TECH AND AG-FINANCE

  Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays an important role in enhancing the impact and performance of agricultural production and poverty alleviation by increasing productivity through new credit and financial services. Ensibuuko , a mobile and web application that helps farmers in accessing financial services is making a huge impact in Uganda as it has enabled saving and credit associations (and other financing organisations) to handle savings and make loans to smallholder farmers. Ensibuuko  was conceived over a cup of coffee between two friends in 2010. Mr. Gerald Otim and Mr. Opio Obwangamoi David shared a similar background as they were both raised in peasant farming communities. Mr. Otim had attempted to establish a microfinance organisation for farmers, but with a lot of frustration. It is from these frustrations that he and Mr David were moved to establish Ensibuuko. The solution is targeting farmer’s welfare through Savings and Credit Cooperative Organis...
Post a Comment
Read more

CTA BROADENS SUPPORT FOR YOUNG AGRI-PRENEURS THROUGH AGRIHACK INITIATIVE

  The Challenge of weak integration of ICT in agriculture Technology  plays a great role  in enhancing advisory services, knowledge exchange, data acquisition and access to market and trade in the agricultural sector. As mobile communications technology widens and  subscriptions increase at a high rate , the opportunity to leverage the role of ICTs in agriculture for improved and sustainable agricultural development becomes more possible/obvious. However, despite the tremendous possibilities that exist, technological innovations and applications are still weakly harnessed for agricultural development. Stakeholders at the national and international levels are calling for increased actions in these areas, as articulated during the  2013 ICT4Ag Conference  organised by CTA and its partners. Youth participation is critical for the development and dispersion of those innovations. Exploring youth entrepreneurship opportunities through ICT4Ag According to  IT...
Post a Comment
Read more

Narudi Nyumbani, but I am on a mission

NARUDI NYUMBANI, BUT I AM ON A MISSION It's 2013, I receive news about the 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week set to take place in Accra, Ghana. I really want to attend this event to learn and network. I submit my case study: " Improving access and application of information and knowledge for agriculture by transforming telecentres into agricultural knowledge hubs ," to be presented under the information and knowledge for food security in Africa, side event. My cases study is accepted and I get full sponsorship to attend and present at the one week conference. At the same time, I get support as a youth participant. I am so excited. Thanks to FARA and CTA. Simon at the 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week 2013 It turns out to be a very successful trip. I return home on South African Airways, connecting from Accra to Nairobi, to Johannesburg, then Bulawayo and finally Lusaka. Just when we are about to land, a beautiful song plays, it arouses my emotions and I cannot hol...
1 comment
Read more