Internet connectivity, smart devices key to improve distance learning — Vodafone CEO
The Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai, has asked the government and private businesses to work together to improve access to the Internet.
The two parties must also make smart devices more affordable to improve distance education in Ghana.
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According to her, emerging technology had changed the concept of distance education, where students travelled from far locations to campuses, sometimes on weekends, to be taught.
In a release issued in Accra yesterday, she said although times were changing, there was still a gap in access to internet connectivity and affordable smart devices.
She was speaking at the 10th congregation of the Jackson College of Education, a teacher training college that operates by distance learning.
Ms Obo-Nai said about 80 per cent of the 1,000 girls who signed up for Vodafone’s free online coding course could not take part because they did not have smart devices or access to the Internet.
“Driving access to internet connectivity across Ghana should be a shared concern between the government and the private sector if we are to make significant strides in education.
“Access to reliable internet connectivity in communities is now a necessity, equivalent to electricity and water, and collectively, we must make it happen,” she said.
She asked what the use of providing internet coverage across the country was if the people in the community did not have access to smart devices.
“Affordability is key. While we drive manufacturers to produce low-cost smart devices for Africa, we must reduce costs through the entire supply chain, even if it means assembling in Ghana and reducing the cost of imports.
“We can also provide tax incentives to suppliers to speed up adoption and usage,” Ms Obo-Nai said.
Vodafone’s contribution
Concerning what Vodafone Ghana had done to improve access to the internet, Ms Obo-Nai said the company had worked with the government through the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) to connect more than 300 rural communities to Vodafone’s network.
She urged educators who graduated from the school to embrace a mindset change regarding technology.
“We need a new breed of educators who are open to modern ways of solving challenges, communicating and collaborating in and out of learning environments.
“We need teachers who will use modern technologies in the classroom to make learning more connected. To do this effectively as an educator, you need to be curious about the world outside your curriculum. You must take the initiative to learn what you need to know,” she added.