When teaching Information and Communications Technology (ICT), having the required equipment is necessary in order to effectively teach the students about how computers work. There is no better way than to let them do the lessons hands-on. However, for schools in rural farming communities in Ghana, computers are not often provided to children, making it almost impossible for them to see a computer while trying to learn about ICT.
This is when Owura Kwadwo, an ICT teacher from Kumasi, Ghana, realized what he must do.
Since he also learned about visual arts, he decided to put his skills to good use by illustration a computer screen on his chalkboard in detail so that his students can still appreciate the lessons they are learning about ICT.
He was teaching the kids about how to create a Microsoft Word document and in order for them to see the exact details on the computer screen, Kwadwo drew a complete screenshot on the chalkboard. The students can then copy and study it as if they are really looking at a computer screen.
To share awareness of this situation, Kwadwo made a Facebook post that instantly went viral because of his improvised way of teaching that touched the hearts of many who have come across his story.
“Every teacher has a way of presenting his subject to his students. This is my way,” Kwadwo told Bored Panda.
His unconventional but genius method of handling the lack of resources in their school seems t have worked and kids are learning as they should despite the limitation in equipment.
“I do it to make my students understand what I‘m teaching,” Kwadwo further shared. “At least to give a picture of what they will see assuming they were behind a computer. I do make sure they understand everything well before they leave the class.”
The viral post won a lot of hearts and many people online praised Kwadwo for his true commitment to his profession and fr his genuine concern for the children in his school. However, there were also outrage and discussions over the fact that students of the current generation should be experiencing this lack of equipment anymore, especially since ICT is a fundamental subject to help children become globally competitive in the future.
Kwadwo thinks that things are quite improved in big cities such as Kumasi and Accra. But, for rural areas such as his assigned school, the need for proper school equipment is still existent and something that needs to be given attention to.
“The government is helpful and I believe in them, they are trying to make ICT better for the teachers and students,” he said. “We need well-equipped infrastructures and teaching and learning aids, and a government who has education at its heart.”
The best thing that resulted from this would probably be the vast amount of donations and assistance that flowed as a response from generous people. There were laptops and projectors given, which will not only benefit the school where Kwadwo teaches, but also other schools with the same situation in their area.
Kwadwo intends to share these blessings so that more students will learn as they should using help from kind-hearted strangers.
“There are many schools facing this same problem,” he told Bored Panda. “I can also help out and give some of the donations to them, so they can also benefit through teaching ICT.”
In a developing country such as Ghana, the help of innovative teachers who are committed to their job and their students is definitely a much-needed response. Kwadwo’s inspiring answer to the need of his students is a great example that showed how the lack of resources should not be deemed as a hindrance for students to really learn.
ICT is an essential subject that would form a base for students to be globally competitive. Without proper equipment and resources to learn from, kids in Ghana will surely miss out on a lot. Fortunately, these kids have a teacher like Kwadwo who perfectly understands their needs. He is indeed an inspiring person and the kind of teacher that everyone needs.
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