A teacher from Ghana wanted to teach his students the basics of Microsoft Word but the impoverished school had little in the way of technology. They had no computers for him to use to give the kids a practical lesson. So the teacher, Richard Appiah Akoto improvised and drew Microsoft Word on the blackboard using colored chalk. He won the internet that day.
He showed overwhelming dedication and commitment to his career by deciding to draw up Word on the blackboard. You wouldn't believe how spot on and perfect his impression of Word is. The amount of effort this required must have been off the charts.
When the internet saw the insane levels of dedication the teacher showed to his students, the picture instantly went viral. Microsoft is now offering the teacher and his middle school free equipment and online help, something which the children would benefit from.
It is a strange fact that the middle school had no computers at all for the children to use. The idea was far fetched at best despite ICT being one of the compulsory subjects which children in Ghana have to pass.
Owura Kwadwo - also known as Richard Appiah Akoto - wrote in his Facebook post "Teaching of ICAT in Ghana's school is very funny. But I love my students and will do what I must to teach them and help them understand."
Microsoft has promised the young man and his school that they will be getting professional help from the giant corporation. Akto has been teaching at the same institute, Betenase M/A Junior High School for about six years now.
Akoto told to Quartz Africa that this isn't the first time he has drawn Microsoft Word on the board - nor was it the last. But the company ensures that that this should be the last time that Akoto manually draws Microsoft Word.
A local entrepreneur from Africa, Rebecca Enonchong tweeted to the company what means Akoto was resorting to in order to get the job done. This is probably what made Akoto's Facebook status viral. "You should get him some proper resources." She added.
This is the typical case for most public school systems in Ghana. Quartz Africa reports that this is the same situation for most public school systems in the country and they all suffer from lack of resources.
How are the children actually going to learn the use of technology and the latest means of innovation if they do not have access to basic amenities such as the computer. Yes - computers are now labeled as 'basic amenities'.
How are most of these children going to compete with their counterparts when they have no access to utilities like electricity, water, a roof over their head and even food. Computers are a far fetched luxurious resource in their world.
Ghana and many African countries which share the same geographical resources are impoverished and a large population is stricken with poverty. Some areas of Africa get so desperate that they resort to eating food made out of mud.
Those of us who have the means should help out in whatever capacity we can, Contribute to established and well reputed charities which have a properly designed plan in place to help out those who are poverty stricken.
While the Ghanaian population is doing what they can to escape out of the crippling poverty, they have numerous challenges such as air and water pollution, destruction of forestry, poor sanitation and regular floods. They require billions in the way of funding to pull through.
While Ghana fares slightly better than other African countries they share their border with, things are not always on the up and up and their economy is characterized by frequent downturns at difficult times which doesn't help the case of school going children.
As is the case with most public school systems, they are mostly underutilized and have a lack of resources. Private schools on the other hand have exorbitant fees which only the absolutely rich can afford, while those with minimal wages suffer.
