Tema: The CERMES Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has organised a digital literacy workshop for 40 pupils of the Republic Road Junior High School in Tema Community Four to equip them with practical skills in the use of spreadsheet applications. The training formed part of the Foundation's efforts to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills among basic school pupils.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ms Ernestina Antwi-Boasiako, Administrator of the CERMES Foundation, said the school was selected following consultations with the ICT Coordinator of the Tema Metropolitan Education Directorate. She said discussions revealed that pupils of the school had limited access to ICT facilities and practical digital training. She stated that the initiative was designed to equip the pupils with essential digital skills ahead of their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), noting that the programme sought to address the persistent 'all theory, no practical' gap in ICT education.
Ms Antwi-Boasiako emphasized the importance of preparing students for questions on electronic spreadsheets in the BECE, highlighting the necessity of ICT skills in the modern world. Mr Austin Awotwe, a facilitator for the Foundation, expressed satisfaction with the level of understanding demonstrated by the pupils. He noted that despite expecting to start with basic concepts, the pupils already had some foundational knowledge, which made the sessions more engaging.
Mr Awotwe took the pupils through practical lessons on defining spreadsheets, their functions and features, and how data is organised and validated. The training also included an interactive exercise in which pupils worked in groups during a three-minute 'brain power' session to list spreadsheet-related terms, encouraging active participation and reinforcing the concepts taught.
As part of efforts to improve future programmes, facilitators distributed questionnaires to the pupils to assess their satisfaction and gather feedback.