Speech by Moses Wamanga – The KAWA National Chairman nd
At The 2 Graduation of CPD Candidates Of Kibaale at the District Headquarters Grounds 6/3/2015
Our Dear Chief Guest, the RCD-Representing the Minister of Education The CAO Kibaale The DEO Kibaale Honorable Members of the District technical team Our Dear Graduands Distinguished personalities present here this morning Heads of Academic institutions Members of the media present Invited guests Ladies and gentlemen, It gives me great pleasure to be given the opportunity to deliver this address at the 2nd Graduation of the National of ICT in Education and Training, CPD 2014/2015. Let me take this opportunity to thank the Almighty God who has given us life and ability to work together very well up to the present day. I thank the government of the Republic of Uganda for the best ICT policy, infrastructure in schools and the support we have received from the launch of the project by Hon. Jessica Alupo in 2012. Allow me thank the District Administration of Kibaale right from the RDC, CAO and the DEO- Mr. Kyaboona John for welcoming us and providing a working space as well as the mobilization. Let me extend special thanks to the director of CPD at KAWA, Professor Sylvester Rwaka Adyeri for laying a strong training policy and sustaining the training amidst all hardships. Our Guest of Honour, our country continues to be poor and suffers from all the social, economic, and political pathologies that so often accompany poverty. Clearly the escape from poverty will require transformation of all our basic institutions: our economy, work ethics, our culture. And all of these transformations of our ways of working and governing and thinking will not happen without a rapid expansion and improvement of our educational systems.
Background of KAWA Kisubi Associated Writers Agency (KAWA) is an educational forum founded by teachers and authors of books for schools. KAWA focuses on printing and publishing educational materials, promotion of reading culture, setting standard Examinations, IT training, creation of databases and websites for schools, career guidance services, free library support, free online schools directory as well as other outreach services. KAWA Works with eLearning Africa, Learn with Grandma UK, Ministry of Education and Sports, MUBS, UTAMU and ASSHU. We are providing: • •
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Teacher professional development, which is absolutely essential if technology provided to schools is to be used effectively. Opportunities to overcome teachers’ isolation, breaking down their classroom walls and connecting them to colleagues, mentors, curriculum experts, and the global teacher community. Support to school management and administration; Skills to enhance the quality of teachers and instructors; Highly recommended interactive educational materials; a collaborative team towards a critical mass of knowledge workers; access to ICT in schools.
Why we had to intervene Teachers in a large number of rural schools are still stuck in the 19th century theoretical approaches of teaching, with little or no digital literacy; their skills have been eroded after many years of teachers with no upgrading, due to lack of exposure to modern technology. This restricts teachers and students from engaging in 21st century e-learning techniques and the professional development opportunities. There are more challenges to do with Curriculum formulation approach – outdated, limited and obsolete; Education focus on memorization not on building skills; Teacher centric approach applied; Parent engagement is limited; Large demand, huge population and limited resources as well as High cost of schools establishment and management. Kuan Tzu, in 3 BC wrote When planning for a year- sow seeds. When planning for a decade- plant trees. When planning for life-
train and educate Humankind. For most Ugandan societies, the surest road out of the poverty trap is to explore the full potential of innovative learning systems to facilitate our development. We cannot win this war on poverty without dramatic improvements in our educational system. It is this road that will lead to work and wealth, for our people; It is this road that will bring dignity and prosperity for our people; It is this road that will unleash the untapped potential in our people; It is this road that will bring equality and social justice to our people; Mr. Chairman, his excellencies, it has been documented that the expansion and enrichment of our educational system can only happen if Africa is able to harness the power of information communication technology (ICT) to connect teachers and learners to the knowledge they need, wherever that knowledge exits. Chief Guest, ladies and gentlemen, I believe the key to addressing the challenges inherent in Uganda’s educational institutions is e-learning and its various variants-hybrid learning, mobile learning, blended learning, ubiquitous learning, etc. The Cuban poet José Marti once said: All people, when they arrive on earth, have a right to be educated; and then in return, they have the obligation to educate others’. We have the keys to the world before us and, we have the obligation to pass those keys to others. With the e-learning concept, we have the best chance of achieving Education for All Africans who are yearning for it. Together, we can make a Uganda of difference. Thank you Wamanga Moses Executive Director, KAWA