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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.

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