COVID-19, EDUCATION AND ICT.

The Coronavirus pandemic has significant adverse effects on every sector of our economy. Due to the increase in the number of cases recorded, all educational institutions in Ghana have been closed down, and recently, most tertiary institutions have resorted to the use of online platforms as a tool to replace the conventional face to face classroom interactions. This, however, is not without its own challenges: poor telecommunication network, coupled with the lack of ICT devices and skills among educators and students alike. These have made online study platforms extremely difficult if not impossible to use.

 Most basic and secondary school students, particularly those in the rural communities appear to be at a greater disadvantage as most of their parents do not have digital television sets to access the newly launched GL-TV channel.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has projected that the COVID-19 pandemic would be with us for at least two years even if a vaccine is obtained. In the wake of this revelation, it is evident that safety protocols such as the washing of hands, wearing of face masks and social distancing must become a custom in our lives for a month of Sundays.

Consequently, there is an urgent need to modify our educational system by using ICT. However, only a few school teachers and students have the tools and skills requisite for this modification. 

It is therefore important for the government to consider the following:

• The provision of electricity and or solar energy for all schools in the country.

• The provision of adequate computers for all schools. 

• Provision of WIFI services in all educational institutions.

• Extension of bandwidth available to the rural communities to bridge the gap between rural and urban communities.

• Alignment of school curricula and instruction with technology.

• Training of educators to equip them with the requisite ICT skills.

More so, parents must be ready to support their wards by:

• Understanding the importance of ICT in their children's education.

• Providing their children with ICT learning tools and resources.

• Creating learning opportunities at home for their wards.

• Monitoring their children's use of ICT tools and resources.

Educators are key figures in the learning process, and their role can not be overlooked. They must, therefore, be prepared to:

• Improve their knowledge and skills in the use of ICT.

• Develop appropriate and innovative teaching methods using ICT.

•  Develop innovative assessment methods using technology.

• Monitor students' use of technology as a learning tool.

This technological migration in our education, nonetheless, comes with financial and attitudinal challenges. However, effective collaboration among the stakeholders in education will go a long way to solve the problem and therefore ease the negative effects of this pandemic and also prepare us for the future. The world is going digital, let us not lag behind.