ICT4D series launched in Tamale

NORTHERN ICT4D SERIES LAUNCHED

The Northern ICT4D series, a monthly community ICT forum that would afford stakeholders an opportunity to interact and share ideas on various topical issues in the digital economy has been launched in Tamale.

Speaking at the launch on the topic ICTs and Teacher Training in Ghana, Mr. Rashid Tanko, head of the ICT department for Tamale Teacher Training College applauded the new reforms and the efforts of Government in deploying ICT tools, especially computers in the teacher training college. He however lamented that the one credit hour allocated for the training of trainees per week was woefully enough to give the teacher trainees the relevant skills needed to integrated ICTs in their work as teachers especially that some of them were only seeing computers even for the very first time in their colleges.

He mentioned some of the challenges facing the training of the teacher as inadequate infrastructure and E-readiness.

“The advantages of ICT improving upon the skills of the teacher cannot be quantified but the real challenges must also be tackled” he said.

Alhaji AYMB Ibrahima, an Assistant Director at the Regional Education Office and the Director of Baobab group of Businesses in Tamale led a discussion on the relationship between humans and ICT tools and the need to be value adding people and not back end users of the tools. “In 5 years time, we should make some progress by adding value to the stock of ICT infrastructure by manufacturing and developing software that we have and not only be users” he said. He urged the teacher training institutions to training institutions to train teachers who would train pupils to become value adding people and not just users.

He said the new reforms, despite the lack of preparedness and the unavailability of infrastructure provides a window and foundation for the gradual development of the country and the individual self.

Doing the launch, Mr. Jonnie Akakpo, the GINKS chairman expressed his delight about the efforts of the Northern Node of GINKS in keeping the flame of knowledge sharing burning in the north for “knowledge residing in one person is less valuable than residing in the many persons” Mr. Akakpo said.

He took participants through the genesis and the work of GINKS and expressed his delight to be present at the launch of the Northern ICT4D Series. He called for more individuals and organizations to partner GINKS in organizing the series to broaden and deepen discussions on ICT4D

Upon his call, northernghana.com pledged to partner by publicizing all activities regarding the Series on their website northernghana.com.

Participants urged GINKS to partner with the Northern Network for Educational Development (NNED) to study and track the progress of the ICT component of the new educational reform in the three northern regions.

Mr. George Nego Fugluu a teacher of St. Charles Minor seminary senior secondary school (first runner up best teacher award recipient in 2006) urged for the organization of such fora. He called for resource sharing among the well endowed schools and the less endowed schools in the regions for the sake of equity.

Participants called on government and other stake holders to ensure the existence of the enabling environment to enhance effective utilization of ICTs such as the provision and accessibility of electricity,

The Northern ICT4D Series is a joint effort between Filla FM, Ghana Information Network for Knowledge Sharing (GINKS) and the Institute for Local Government Studies to encourage knowledge sharing on ICTs for Development in the Northern Region. The series would be organized on the last Thursday of every month.