How we organised a successful ICT Quiz for Awareness raising on the potential of ICT

Savana Signatures, formerly Northern Information Network for Schools (NINS), a community -based organisation, was set up to address the inequalities in the world with the use of computers and other ICT tools in Northern Ghana. NINS helped to form ICT clubs for school students in Savelugu, encouraging all students in the district to join either school-based clubs or youth-based clubs for out-of-school youth. The ICT club members were equipped with the requisite training and skills to help proclaim the good ICT’s can be to us as a society in their various localities.  NINS’ staff, called Knowledge Sharing Officers, also shared ideas together with the students on ICT’s and other ICT4Development issues. They acted as intermediaries between the organisation and the schools. Drawing inspiration from the objectives of the organisation, a lot of activities were organised from class tests to quiz competitions and excursions to places that make great use of ICT tools.
On the 30^th of June 2005 the first major ICT quiz competition was organised. The main aim of the quiz competition was to assess the work of the organisation and to see whether the computer literacy training organised for the students was making any impact.  
As part of the preparations, letters were sent to all schools involved, questions for the quiz were prepared and a quizmaster was found who would deliver the quiz. The quiz was scheduled for 3pm in the evening. This was because by that time all schools would have closed for the day so normal classes would not be distracted.  
Four schools took part in the quiz competition. The questions were based on all that they have been taught at NINS’ ICT centre and also on their discussions with their Knowledge sharing Officers on ICT4D issues. There was also a charades game on ICT. At the end of the quiz competition, (which was keenly contested) there was only one award at stake. The winning school was to go on a fully paid for excursion to Justice FM, a local radio station in Tamale. NINS organised a local media presence to cover the quiz and the excitement it generated in Savelugu.
 

MATERIALS USED

Various materials were used to realise the successful organisation of the competition. The materials include hardware parts of a personal computer which the participants of the quiz had to identify correctly.
Canopies were rented to provide shade for all that were present. Plastic chairs were also rented for all to be seated on. Sachets of purified water were bought for all who were thirsty. A public address system was also hired to provide music and to serve as an address system. Plain A4 papers were also used. The charade questions were written on them and all were folded up and mixed up in a little plastic bowl for picking by contestants. Other material that worked perfectly well was the use of a large blackboard. It made it easy and transparent for the contestants to see the scores and to know where they stand. It also added flair to the quiz since a score master was keeping scores and animating the crowd.
Also, another material that contributed to the character of the gathering were T-shirts which bore the inscription “NINS ICT CLUB - bridging the digital divide” which the students wore. The shirts added to the sense of identification for the students with NINS and were designed in line with the NINS logo. It set the students apart as being interested in ICTs and bridging the digital divide, and it made the somewhat abstract theme of ICT4D more ‘discussable’ among students and community members. The shirts were bought by NINS and an expert wrote the inscriptions and the logo of NINS on them. They were then given out to the students. The idea of printing the ICT Club T-shirts did not originate from NINS but rather was suggested by the students themselves during visits made to the various schools by the Knowledge Sharing Officers.
 

PARTIPANTS

Generally, participants were all pupils and students in Savelugu. However, the ICT clubs in all schools were actively involved. Each school presented three students to contest in the quiz while all the other students stood behind their representatives to give their support by clapping and cheering. The schools that were present included the following:
Pong Tamale L/A Junior Secondary School, Pong Tamale Experimental Junior Secondary School, Savelugu Senior Secondary School, Savelugu Junior Secondary School, Yoo Roman Catholic Junior Secondary School, Rashadiya Islamic Junior Secondary School, Savelugu Experimental Junior Secondary School, Tiyumtaba Academy.  
However, not all the above schools took part in the quiz. Only four schools contested, namely: Pong Tamale L/A Junior Secondary School, Pong Tamale Junior Secondary School, Savelugu Junior Secondary School, Yoo Roman Catholic Junior Secondary School.
 

OBSERVATIONS

Although the venue for the program seemed to be ideal, the management was not very pleased with the final outcome because it turned out to be very small since the program attracted rather more people than we thought it would.
Unfortunately, some stakeholders we invited only came after the program had ended, stating they had been tied up with work elsewhere. NINS had very little financial means to facilitate Travel and Transport (T&T) allowances to the media representatives as they had demanded before coverage. As a result only two media houses could be invited to cover the event since more media representation meant more financial investment required.
All in all, the occasion was a big success. Even though the organisation had a specific target group for the quiz, the entire population of Savelugu seemed to be present! Market women, farmers, and passers-by could not help but to stop to witness the event - the first of its kind, not only in Savelugu, but also in the district as a whole. During the program more chairs had to be brought, and even so, a lot of other members of the public had to stand. Participation was beyond our expectations. We had every school represented and everyone played his or her role very well. Also it looked as if the whole Savelugu community were present. This was because the issues of ICT and digital opportunities and issues relating to computers are new in the society and so they were more than keen to see what ever was to transpire.
It is suggested that in the future, serious efforts be made to get sponsorship for the programs so that issues like providing enough sitting space for the general public will be dealt with adequately. Also, money should be allocated to get more media coverage.
Savana Signatures would benefit from financial support to organise similar ICT Quizzes for other communities. If you know of any means of support for such initiatives in Northern Ghana, please let us know!