A Kaduna-based ICT group, Natsa Foni Foundation, has resolved to provide training on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to pupils of a public primary school, LEA Karji, in Kaduna.
The Executive Director of the Foundation, Mr Leslie Dongh, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Thursday that the gesture was to bridge the ICT gap among primary school pupils.
Dongh said that the gesture was part of the Foundation’s activities under the platform of the Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism.
He said that the engagement of the basic education sector revealed that most public primary schools in the state had been left behind in terms of ICT, even when the world was currently ICT-driven.
“It grieves my heart that over 90 per cent of public primary schools do not have basic facilities needed to teach the children basic ICT skills.
“Although most of the primary schools teach some form of ICT, it is mainly theoretical due to lack of computer laboratories and other facilities necessary for practical teaching of ICT.
“I, therefore, see the need to bring my ICT gadgets to teach the pupils the practical aspect of computer to inspire them into learning more, and also build on the foundation,” he said.
The executive director said that Karji primary school was the pilot school for such training, adding that the Foundation would adopt another primary school and a secondary school to help the students.
He said that a three-month practical curriculum had been designed to cover a whole term, one hour every week, to provide hands-on ICT training to pupils for them to meet up with current developments.
He called on the state government to consider organising training on ICT for primary school teachers, equip primary schools with ICT facilities and electricity to make practical teaching of ICT possible and effective.
The Head Teacher of the school, Ms Baboshiya James, commended the foundation for the support, noting that the training on ICT in the schools had been theoretical due to lack of computers.
“We are only teaching them theoretical aspects of ICT, with no form of practical because we do not have a single computer in the school.
“We are calling on the government, the private sector and other development partners, to support the school with computer facilities to enable the pupils put what they have learned to practice,” she said.
One of the pupils, Joel Moses, who said he never touched a computer before, expressed joy that he was able to, for the first time, type his name on a computer during the training.
“It was so interesting and fulfilling to finally touch a computer and type my name in it; I did not want it to stop.
“I pray for more such opportunities to learn about ICT, and be able to touch a computer and do things with it,” said the visibly excited Moses, who is the Head Boy of the school.
Also, the Assistant Head Girl of the school, Rejoice Oguche said: “It feels good to finally touch a computer.
“The little I knew about a computer is mainly theory without seeing it, or touching it to see if it can do what our teachers said it could do.
“Today, I had a chance to click on a mouse and write my name on a computer; It feels so great,” she said. (NAN
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