Of smart phones, surgical or hygienic removal of developmental barriers and smarter schools for Africa
Values For Our Students
INTRODUCTION
Poverty, lack of technical know how, poor prioritization, low self esteem and lack of mechanisms for network/partnership building still remain to be barriers against which Africa is held back. It is not the question for surgical removal of these barriers as much as it is for continued hygienic approach to break the barriers. Like we brush our teeth, or wash our plates so should we work on our own image and self esteem if we are to break the poverty barrier.
Africa needs institutions that reach down and up, institutions that empower communities to work towards development much as it needs smart phones. But, how do we maintain the smart phones? We need schools, we need learners, we need teachers, we need societal input, we need the political motivation to make Africans attain well-being.
From smart phones to smart schools...
Such words as these can be combined in the same conversation about smart phones: powerful, technologies, standard, communication tool, wireless, hands free, GPS navigation, hearing aid compatibility, hot product, exciting, upgraded features, multimedia, calling management, web browsing, child location, camera, blue-tooth, hands free, near field communication ( gathering web links at one platform), speaker phone, standard head connector and touch free control.
All they are saying is the phone enable one perform tasks that many years ago required one running to different shops or outlets such faxing, scanning and video or voice recording.
This was the conversation we had next after reading it from the Sunday Boston Globe December 29 2013, G2 section.
Our shared thought and wish of the day: Africa must have smartest schools too. We then deliberated on this point.
To be smart, smarter and smartest all in one
Our phones today, well most phones, can be said to be smart. After church I visited a friend of mine.I took her the Sunday paper ( Boston Sunday Globe, December 29th 2013). I do read her the paper or engage her in conversation about Africa.
She is a good friend of mine and at 70+ she also tells me much about America. Or....her version of America.
I did read to her the headlines in the paper and then read to her in detail the sections she wanted read to her. She would nod off, here and there. But,I learnt a long time ago, she still has her listfulness with her. Talk of people who think while their eyes are closed! She is that breed. She would correct me regularly if I mispronounced a word. I had to work my "walk," "work," "wake" enunciation to the level that Bostonians (white folks) like to hear lest they do stop in mid conversation just to correct you! Now that is new.......to me!
Any way, we finished the dissecting the paper and went to the next awakener. She says conversations about Africa awaken her.
We share a passion of novels about Africa, written by Africans. On her list is: Wilbur Smith and Robert Rourke. That is where it ends! These two authors are white Africans. She used to think those were the only people who wrote about Africa. I introduced her to many other names and also told her that Africa has Jews, Palestinians, Syrians, Lebanese, Whites, Chinese, Indians on top of black people. She was like.....mmmmmmmhhhhhhh?????? And I was like....haaaaaaaa!!!!!
Being a very smart lady, she opened up her mind, ears and eyes. Being a little smart,I asked to borrow her really ginormous encyclopaedia. Luckily enough we found out together the list of races/tribes/cultures/ethnicities that are found in Africa. It was an eye opener for both of us.
It smart to conduct this conversation, smarter still to have a theme to talk about but, smartest to consult and have at arms length a reference text. Which brings me to the next points we were talking about....computers and smart phones for Africa.
Combine Humanism with Environmental Care
A smart School in Africa or anywhere
We talked in length about an ideal school and what its features should be. We came up with:
1. Usability
Must be built to be used in different ways from instruction activities, all forms of curricular pursuance to being used by communities if it is to be sustainable.
2. Accessibility
The school must be accessible in form of affording its running, attendance, retention, address holistic needs to being reachable in form of road networks or built areas.
3. Land Mark
It must have the potential to attract a work force and student body ready to take up responsibilities and roles that in turn result in excellence.
4. Secure
It must inspire confidence, purpose and a sense of duty for all.
5. Practicability
The pupils, students and learners must be able to adopt and adapt to the tasks thrown at their laps.
I injected in here. In Africa some "schools" are under tree shades! I also told her of continued wars and famine in Africa that may cause poor school retention. We agreed that there is need to involve political leaders in Africa and at international levels to promote peace, tranquility and sustainable livelihood. We assumed this to be constant and I proceeded to tell her about Africa Empowerment Communities.
What prevails and what we need to improve upon
Africa Empowerment Communities, Not For Profit Organization based in USA
This organization is run by both Americans, Africans and well -wishers who want to do five things:
1. Collect text books and scholastic support materials
2. Establish a warehouse facility
3. Ship books and scholastic support materials to Africa
4. Establish schools or work with existing schools to promote their concept of education, learning and forming a practical student in Africa.
5. Show case results, improve on service delivery and continue with support.
Twining with USA-based Schools or use/copy best practices in USA
Here is how you can support
You can support by:
CONCLUSION:
A smart school must have the following features:
1. Usability
Must be built to be used in different ways from instruction activities, all forms of curricular pursuance to being used by communities if it is to be sustainable.
2. Accessibility
The school must be accessible in form of affording its running, attendance, retention, address holistic needs to being reachable in form of road networks or built areas.
3. Land Mark
It must have the potential to attract a work force and student body ready to take up responsibilities and roles that in turn result in excellence.
4. Secure
It must inspire confidence, purpose and a sense of duty for all.
5. Practicability
The pupils, students and learners must be able to adopt and adapt to the tasks thrown at their laps.
