Dr. Mattew Opoku Prempeh,Education minister
The Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh has indicated the need for countries to invest in infrastructure and technology in schools in order to create an environment for digital intelligence skills training.
Schools and teachers, he said, must collaborate to ensure that in the home, the skills learnt in school are applied by children under parental supervision and guidance.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in New York, United States of America (USA), on Monday, he said the teacher training curriculum also needed to be revamped to include current digital trends.
“Digital intelligence skills training must form an important part of the teacher training curriculum to ensure that teachers are adequately equipped to be able to create awareness among children and guide them accordingly as part of the education curriculum,” he stated.
He noted that digital intelligence played an important role in protecting young children from the harmful effects of online technology, including gambling, falling prey to child molestation and inappropriate content.
Internet service providers and mobile communications companies, Dr Prempeh, said, were vital components in the need to provide digital intelligence skills training to young people in school and home settings.
This, he said, was because they provide the platforms for access to digital services.
“As digital technology experts, they are in a strong position to help update teachers’ skills and competencies in emerging trends, and also to provide complimentary support and direction for children from an expert view,” he stated.
Touching on challenges faced in teaching digital skills in a classroom setting, Dr. Prempeh said mostly, schools in Ghana, especially the public schools, were poorly equipped with devices to teach digital intelligence skills in a practical, meaningful way.
In many cases, he said the physical infrastructure was poor, and in rural areas, access to electricity and therefore internet connectivity is generally erratic.
By Times Reporter
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