By Emmanuel AKOMEA
The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has called for establishing more information communication technology (ICT) centres across the country to help students benefit from the numerous opportunities technology presents.
The Chamber’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ken Ashigbey, emphasised the need for ICT centres to be set up in districts and villages – providing students with an opportunity to develop their skills in information and communication technology.
“We acknowledge the need for infrastructure and continuing support for communities we engaged with. We are advocating for the establishment of ICT centres in districts and villages, where students can continue to develop their skills. Additionally, we aim to collaborate with government authorities to facilitate this process,” he noted.
This was said during a Coding Caravan event organised by the Chamber in partnership with the Institute of lCT Professionals Ghana (IPGH) for basic school pupils in the South Tongu district of Volta Region.
The programme featured a variety of activities designed to introduce pupils, from upper primary level to junior high school (JHS) level, to the basics of coding and animations using the Scratch application software, 3D design using Tinkertoys and an introduction to loT through hands-on experience with Arduino kits to build a traffic-light system.
Stressing the need for establishing ICT centres, Dr. Ashigbey stated that a one-day awareness programme would not be sufficient to achieve its objectives; therefore, having ICT facilities available will enable the pupils to have continuous practice.
Speaking about the initiative’s long-term goals, the CEO stated: “Our long-term goal is to see coding education integrated into the national curriculum, with the hope that it will become a profitable trade in the future.”
The Chamber’s advocacy for the establishment of more ICT centres and integrating coding education into the national curriculum reflects a proactive approach to addressing the growing demand for digital skills in Ghana.
Executive Director-IIPG, David Gowu, speaking on the programme expressed his excitement by stating: “This year the Coding Carnival is back on the road, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. We have already made significant progress and are excited about the nationwide reach of this initiative. Given the right opportunities and exposure, young individuals have the potential to create groundbreaking innovations that can leave a lasting impact.
“Our goal is to expand and enhance this programme by bringing more partners on board and increasing our impact. So far, we have introduced over 3,000 young people to the Coding Carnival with the ultimate objective of establishing coding clubs in schools, enabling students to participate in coding competitions, fostering innovation and, ultimately, creating solutions that can benefit our country and Africa as a whole.”
He added that resources and funding are limiting factors for the programme’s growth, but they are focusing on raising awareness through a comprehensive roadshow that will navigate major towns, cities and villages across the country, culminating in the northernmost region.
In terms of sustainability, Mr. Gowu mentioned training sessions for teachers who have access to government-supplied computers and school labs. The goal is to equip these educators with the necessary skills and knowledge to integrate coding into their teaching practices.
Chief Sales Officer-CSquared – sponsor of the programme, Stephen Gefli, also added that the sponsorship is in line with their C-Serve project which focuses on giving back to society; hence collaborating with the Chamber to ensure its success.
He expressed the organisation’s commitment to continuing support so the initiative can reach more communities.
