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Ghana
Presently the Ministry of Education in Ghana is spearheading the establishment of SchoolNet Ghana in partnership with Partners for Internet in Education (PIE), World Links for Development, iEARN, amongst others.
Partners for Internet in Education (PIE)
Partners for Internet in Education (PIE) is a non-profit association formed with some initial assistance from USAIDs Leland initiative. The organization aims to bring together schools, companies, organizations, and individuals interested in promoting education through the use of computers and the Internet. Founding PIE members included representatives from more than a dozen Ghanaian schools and three private sector organizations. By August 2020, PIE finalized its committee structure and began collaborating with the World Banks World Links for Development (WorLD) programme. The assistance from the Leland Initiative provided training for approximately 50 teachers followed by Internet connections, training and modems for 20 Ghanaian schools. PIEs mission is to become a catalyst for the for the use of ICTs in education in Ghana.
Its key objectives are to forge links between schools, organizations and individuals in Ghana who are interested in promoting the use of computers and the Internet in education. Specific objectives include:
- To help advance the use of the computer and Internet in education.
- To influence educational policy in favour of Computer and Internet use in education.
- To set curricula goals in connection with Internet use.
- To foster School-to-School partnerships.
- To foster relationships between PIE and similar associations in other countries.
- To acquire the funds and necessary resources for promoting the use of the Internet in schools.
Membership of PIE is open to any schools, organization, company, or individual with an interest in ICTs and their impact on and applicability to education. PIE presently has over 25 member schools and institutions located in Accra, Cape Coast, Koforidua, Kumasi, Techiman and Wenchi.
PIE has, in strategic partnership with the Ghana Library Board, opened the Accra Community Learning Centre (CLC) which is equipped with computers and with full access to the Internet to advance and support learning resources for teachers and students. This is provided free or at subsidised rates, depending on need or academic focus. CLCs mission is to foster the goals of PIE through sustained community service via provision of affordable learning resources and ICT access to schools.
SNA is working with PIE in mobilizing national stakeholders in the launch of a nationally coordinated schoolnet programme.
Contact: Eric Yankah at [email protected]
Website: http://www.usaid.gov/regions/afr/leland/ghanapie.htm
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WorLD Ghana
The Ghana WorLD Programme began with 3 pilot Senior Secondary Schools in Accra in May 2020. In the same year it expanded to 14 schools in Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, Tema and Aburi. World Links is now active in 31 schools in five of the countrys ten administrative regions, with over 300 teachers and almost 9,000 students actively involved in the programme. Eleven telecollaborative projects are currently underway.
The objectives of WorLD Ghana are to:
- Implement the use of ICT tools in schools.
- Link students and teachers around the world with the aid of ICT to improve educational opportunities and to build global awareness.
- Supplement inadequate educational material in school libraries with current and relevant educational material on the Internet.
- Encourage the use of ICT as a teaching and learning aid.
- Assist students and teachers to create educational content on the Internet, pertaining to their curriculum.
- Assist the youth to gain the knowledge and technical skills they need to contribute effectively to Ghana's development as part of the global economy and in the information age.
With the assistance of the World Bank and other private sector companies, each school has been supplied with 11 computers, network and Internet equipment, connectivity and accessories. All the computers in each school have been connected on a local area network and the school is also connected to the Internet via a telephone dial-up.
At policy level, the Ministry of Education is responsible for the WorLD programme in Ghana. The Ministry of Education has designated an Educational Technology Advisory Board (ETAB) for the purpose of implementation and coordination.
Contact: Eric Yankah, PIE, [email protected]
Samuel Eshun, WorLD Ghana, [email protected], [email protected]
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