By Morish Dramadri

Arua

A set of 100 teachers across West Nile are undertaking ICT skills training at National Teachers’ College Muni in Arua city to prepare them for the implementation of the 2019 National teacher policy expected to be effected around August this year.

The initiative that started in 2022, has equipped about 250 secondary school teachers and around 300 primary teachers 2023 with ICT skills with funding from Uganda communications commission with 100 teachers across West Nile are undergoing a 5day ICT training at NTC muni.

Aliwara Dezzy the principal of National Teachers college Muni says this initiative is to impart in the teachers the skill expected out of a 21^st century teacher. “We want to prepare the teachers in this region to get ready, once this t6eacher policy will become operationalized, the teachers in this region must be ready. So we must prepare them to receive it. What we are giving you today is a cup of new knowledge which will help you to be a holistic teacher, to add up on the skills require out of a 21^st century teacher”, Aliwara said.

Many schools in West Nile region have been lagging behind in technology due to lack of ICT skills, making them to struggling in using the little UCT equipment provided to them. According to Ezaru Lucy the Arua city education officer in charge of administration, this training initiative shall help in implementing the government programs in the field.

Arua city RCC Charles Ichogor and Lucy Ezaru the Arua city Eduaction officer in charge of Administration at the training

“About 10 of 100 schools in West Nile have received computers from partners but because of lack of ICT knowledge, our teachers have decided to pack these computers in boxes, in stores unused in the schools so the intended knowledge cannot be disseminated to the beneficiaries, I believe this support to the teachers will help us in the field,” Ezaru disclosed.

Meanwhile, Charles Ichogor, the Arua city resident commissioner while opening the training implored the teachers to transform the skills into opportunities to earn a living. “This professional training you are undertaking must at the end of the day help you solve problems. All the challenges now you have in digital must be transformed into opportunities using ICT, advance in it, instead of looking for waragi in the evening, you must be on your computer doing some job in USA”, Ichogor begged. 
 
National Teachers’ College under this initiative has trained over 800 teachers across West Nile region since 2022.