Submitted by Agbenyo John Stephen on Tuesday, 25th January, 2011
Dear all,
Savana Signatures has identified the low female participation in ICTs in Northern Ghana. As a result of this, the organization has come out with some strategies to improve upon female participation in ICT. One of such strategies is the formation of the Female ICT Teachers Association (FICTTA).
The Objectives of FICTTA are:
- To build the capacity of female ICT teachers
- To raise awareness of ICT among female teachers
- To make visible female I.C.T. role models
- To advocate more professional development for women teachers in the area of technology
- To promote programmes in schools that will encourage girls to undertake studies in I.C.T.
- To encourage partnership among schools, women groups and industry to increase the number of girls working and studying in I.C.T. fields.
FIICTA held its first meeting on Friday the 21st of January 2010 to plan its activities. The response was massive. One clear challenge is that Savana Signatures only has a small ICT lab of just 10 computers. Presently, there are 35 members registered at the first meeting with the number anticipated to go up at its next meeting on Friday the 28th.
Could anyone on this list help us with some strategies on how to deal with this number- catering for the capacity needs of all of these teachers....most of whom are first timers to ICT and a minority who are average users?
Savana Signatures is focused on capacitating these teachers to be able to teach ICT. As a result, our focus is on regular capacity building. Nonetheless, we admit that this over time might get boring to some members of FICTTA. What other programs will you suggest we look into so as to make members of FICTTA and others long for membership into this group?
Please note that this is a very new group and so any experiences, best practices, funding sources and opportunities, international programmes and conferences that will help build the confidence level and capacity of members of FICTTA are all welcome.
Cheers!
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Video on Public Launnch of FICTTA
Agbenyo John Stephen
Sunday, 17th April, 2011
On Tursday the 14th of April 2011, the Female ICT Teachers Association (FICTTA) was publicly launched in Tamale. The Launch was at a GINKS organised advocacy seminar on ICTs in Education in Northern Ghana.
The following short video gives a vivid imprseeion of the public launch of FICTTA.
Enjoy!
Public Launch of FICTTA
Agbenyo John Stephen
Tuesday, 12th April, 2011
This is to inform you all that there will be a public launch of FICTTA on Thursday the 14th of April 2011 at the Tamale Sports Stadium Conference Centre in Tamale, Ghana.
For those who can attend this event, you are invited. I sure will share videos and photos of this event.
Cheers!
Interesting Initiative
Louisa Kadzo
Saturday, 19th February, 2011
It is amazing how a decline of women in IT is a global concern. Even in developed countries like USA, that is the same concern (only 18% women have graduated in computer and information science degrees). This month in USA, to address rapid dwindling number of women in IT, a CompTIA Education Foundation has created the Women in Information Technology Council and charged it with convincing those with the right knowledge and skills to make IT their career of choice.
I think that some years back, we had the same concerns in the field of medicine and engineering where there were very few women choosing these careers. These statistics have since changed, and we hardly here any alarms raised in many African countries in these fields.
Therefore, i believe with initiatives like yours and many others, statistics of women in IT will change for the better.
Starting at school level at the point when girls are making career choices is key. With role modelling and profiiling of women in ICT including teachers, thats a good start.
Do share your lessons learnt. Id love to share them in my publication.
Framing
Anne-Marijke Podt
Friday, 18th February, 2011
I liked the first post on the female directors. I think that this helps a lot, not just because they may see bottle necks for female participation perqhaps sooner, but more importantly: because they can serve as inspirational role models for other women. Actually, as IICD starts working in Kenya soon, this is something that I have been looking into. I've found a group of tech oriented young ladies, so let see if they, or others, would be interested in becoming trainers... showing other women that technology is not a scary thing! ;-)
I also liked what Lee shared about Twitter and Facebook... I do think getting women on board is largely a framing issue. I studied at a tech uni myself (in the Netherlands) where at the time the male female ratio was abput 85-15, but with huge differences between the different faculties: electronics and computer science used to have virtually no women at all, but architecture and industrial design (while not necessarily less difficult or less "tech") could have up to 40% women. Perhaps presenting courses as "tech" does scare away some people (not just women, but elderly too?), while "communication" may attract a very different crowd!
By the way: I read an article recently that did away with the misconception that girls have less aptitude for maths. All tests that show boys are better equipped for maths have a bias towards a certain way of working or presenting the materials. As soon as you use a different test, girls perform equally well (or even better!).
Dear all, Thanks Anne for
Agbenyo John Stephen
Friday, 18th February, 2011
Thanks Anne for joining in with your insights.
The following is a document represents views from some women. It was collated by IICD staff via women dgroup (i am not too sure if this group still exists though).
Though these views were collated a long time ago, i find that some of the issues raised are still very relevant.
IICD systematically has a higher number of men in its training programs. Are women just not interested in training in ICTs or should we organise our trainings differently?
The participants of the Dgroup on women and ICT had the following ideas; they don’t think women are not interested but see the following inhibiting factors:
· The selection methods and timing of training programs
I would say that the method of selection is one factor that inhibit the participation of women in most of these seminars and trainings. Another factor is time, most women have extra schedules of taking care of the house aside their work and sometimes it makes it difficult for the to leave the house for long periods. Is training over a weekend when a lot of women have to be with family? Is it even marketed to women or to men mostly? What is marketing strategy - formal and informal? (Manju Chatanu) Women usually do not have the exact requirements for most of the trainings available so maybe a module should be designed for such ladies (Joyce Jambeidu)
· Women’s attitude towards technology
I also think that women are not very technically savvy. They think 'electronics' is the man's field and so turn to neglect it. For instance if a woman's cell phone is out of order, she is more likely to give it to her husband to troubleshoot than to try to it herself. (Abigail Thompson) There may be reasons why men are more comfortable with gadgets. If we look at video games - there are more boys who have the time or peer support to experiment with video games at i-cafes or with friends so they are comfortable with ICT. Women and girls, on the other hand, don’t have so much disposable leisure time as they have errands. Also many such games are not made with girls in mind and plus these cyber-cafes are not 'easy' places for girls to go to when there are lots of boys playing aggressive games. (Manju Chatanu)
· Technical jargon
ICT training can be classified as very unfriendly, most times the instructors bully you with their technical jargons but these could be made to be gender friendly. I have had the opportunity of sitting in some ICT trainings and my problem has always been that it was full of technical jargons which could be explained to simple everyday English. (Abigail Thompson)
They had the following suggestions for the way forward:
· Female instructors
Try and bring a gender face to most training aimed at women. You can bring women instructors etc.
· Avoid jargon
Technical jargons can be explained using analogies, everyday examples etc. I remember my boss once said laptops are not gender friendly otherwise they would be made to fit into a woman's handbag or even easy to carry! (Abigail Thompson).
· Develop special modules for women
Find an appropriate ICT training module for our women we REALLY need sure trainings. (Joyce Jambeidu) Use appropriate training methodology (experiential vs rote-learning vs shared learning vs team projects vs individual projects)
· Timing of training to suit women’s preferences
Don’t plan your training when women are supposed to be with their families or have other duties.
Cheers!
Makerere University (Uganda) Could Provide Some Lessons
Aramanzan Madanda
Friday, 18th February, 2011
Steve and all
Makerere University School of Computing and Information Technology (Uganda) may have some lessons to learn from. The School managed to raise female enrolment to over 40%. It is currently headed by a woman and in its early times as an Institute, it was headed by a woman, currently Director of ICT Support in the entire Makerere University. Its first PhD graduate is a woman. The school and the entire University has worked with the School of Women and Gender Studies to make ICT training gender sensitive and also taken on board the CISCO female initiative. These could be some of the lessons that one can learn from.
The challenge of course is still if the trained women will get to employment in industry where they feel welcome.
An association for women female teachers a good point to begin. But the work is enormous and will require a lot of stamina involving overcoming many setbacks along the way.
Cheers.
Lessons from Makerere University
Agbenyo John Stephen
Saturday, 19th February, 2011
Just to do a further follow up on my ealier post, could you please share with us the following information?
1) What was the result from working with the School of Women and Gender Studies to make ICT training more gender-sensitive?
2) What changes to 'regular' ICT training were suggested to be made? In order words, what are a few (top 5?) of the key things to keep in mind when designing or delivering gender sensitive ICT training from their experience?
Thanks for sharing all of these exeriences already!
Cheers!
Lessons from Makerere University
Agbenyo John Stephen
Friday, 18th February, 2011
Many thanks for the drawing our attention to good practice in Makerere University. It is good to read of the successes at your university.
Can you please further share with us some of the practical things that were done to raise female enrolment to over 40%?
Will trained women be accepted in the industry and will they feel accepted? I think that male professionals also have a duty to support female professionals who are in the industry or are aspiring to.
My thoughts.
Cheers!
More on Makerere Univeristy Lessons
Aramanzan Madanda
Saturday, 19th February, 2011
The increase in the percentage of women in ICT at Makerere University has been a result of many efforts spanning over about two decades.
At the beginning of the 1990s the University instituted an affirmative action programme which provides additional grades to women entering University. This in general increased enrolment of women in many programmes including ICT.
In 1991, the University established the Department of women and gender studies which spearheaded gender training and research in the University.
Later a gender mainstreaming unit was established to do the gender mainstreaming in practical terms throughout the University.
In 2003, the Department of Women and Gender Studies started a training programme that prepared thousands of women to take up ICT training. This was partly done with the CISCO Academy Female Initiative programme plus many internal programmes.
The faculty of computing started training women and put up measures such as fees discounts for women, scholarships and mentorship programmes.
The entire University designed policies that addressed gender mainstreaming in ICT and other programmes. Favourable leadership has also been key.
There was also research, monitoring and feedback drawing lessons and feeding into progress.
In short these are some of the explanations bit the entire environment and willingness to design and implement friendly policies is important.
What is not known is how far this effort will be suatained and how women will fit in the workplace and prosper in industry.
Very smart initiative
Maurizio Bricola
Wednesday, 16th February, 2011
Cheers,
Maurizio
FICTTA - A Smart initiative
Agbenyo John Stephen
Thursday, 17th February, 2011
Thanks for your comments. As far as i know, this is the very first of its kind and we at Savana Signatures are happy to be involved in this. We will love to help with setting up other chapters in other countries ( FICTTA - Burkina, FICTTA - Uganda, FICTTA - Zambia, etc) and then move to network them to share knowledge. We are willing to see this come to pass.
Cheers!
Smart Initiative Indeed
Lee Muzala
Thursday, 17th February, 2011
So, Steve watch for a Zambian chapter.
FICTTA - A Smart initiative
Agbenyo John Stephen
Thursday, 17th February, 2011
I am glad to hear about this. Savana Signatures will be very happy to see this happen. Lets discuss further. This could just be the turning point to have more female participation in ICTs.
Cheers!
Involvement of Women
Lee Muzala
Sunday, 6th February, 2011
Personally, I feel its an issue of interest, much more than any form of segregation. Take for instance the use of social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter, I am pretty sure that if you did an in depth analysis of gender participation by country, you will notice that the gap between male and female "facebookers" is very thin. But when it comes to projects, I think its another issue.
Some of the strategies I can think of as at now are as follows:
-
At project concept formulation and planning level, careful consideration of cultural and social aspects needs to be addressed adequately.
-
Forge partnerships with women networks and women focused NGOs, to promote and mobilise resources to develop projects that will embrace the use of ICTs, as well as encourage communication among members and accessing resources through the use of ICTs (eg when renewing membership, no paper-based membership forms will be accepted). Lets try to drive people towards a certain way of doing things, and not waiting on them.
-
We should also always make it a point and even plan for it - follow up on workshops. As we strive to raise awareness among women on the subject of communication and new technologies, we should also institute mentoring processes so that women's groups and organisations can fully take advantage of the benefits of ICTs, and build capacities, provide follow-up and orientation so that women perceive the possibilities offered by ICTs.
I hope this helps you Steve, despite having to respond to your plea a little late. My apologies, I am so caught up with work, as I am trying to expand my small firm to other regions of Zambia.Cheers!
Involvement of Women
Agbenyo John Stephen
Monday, 7th February, 2011
Many thanks for your post. Your thoughts and ideas are very helpful...it provokes further thought on female participation in ICTs and the gendered divide.
I agree with your strategies;
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careful consideration of cultural and social aspects taken into account at project formulation level.
-
Forge partnerships with women networks and women focused NGOs, to promote and mobilise resources to develop projects that will embrace the use of ICTs,
-
making follow up on workshops.
The last one...making followups is very important. This is because for most projects, we tend to make them one off things and even when follow ups are made, it takes ages to come.The other issue that i have identified is that there is very little funding for Gender/Women in ICTs projects. Savana Signatures has developed a concept of undertaking series of Girls ICT clinics (conferences). We have visisted almost every corporate institution that we can think of for support but this is not forth coming.
At FICTTA, we hope to carry on with the support for these female teachers and hope that this support will go a long way to inspire young girls in school to take up active role in ICTs.
Cheers!
Zambian School Curriculum
Lee Muzala
Tuesday, 8th February, 2011
I will follow this up and share with you. Maybe these are some of the opportunities where those ICT clinics for girls can be squeezed, just to make sure that students dont feel disoriented with these skills training, but rather help them see a bit further in their lives.
Will keep in touch on some further developments.
Zambian School Curriculum
Agbenyo John Stephen
Wednesday, 9th February, 2011
Good to hear about this development. I will look forward to how far this will go and then pick up on some lessons.
Cheers!
La question de la mobilisation et de la participation des femmes
HIEN Yorsaon Chri...
Friday, 4th February, 2011
Bonsoir,
Je concois avec Benjamin qu'il faut privilégier la formation par les paires pour susciter de l'émulation et accroitre le nombre de femmes.
Je pense qu'il appartient aux femmes au regard des mutations sociales que le monde connait aujourd'hui de trouver le temps et les armes de leurs ambitions. Que veux-je dire? Il s'agit de nous appuyer sur des femmes leaders dans les zones du projet (au Burkina Madame KONE a créé un intérêt des femmes pour les TIC. Elle a même pu antrainer sa directrice à faire la même formation qu'elle et elles viennent toutes les deux de soutenir avec brio leur master2) pour sensibiliser les autres.
Je pense à des conférences dans les établissements et dans les centres de formation des enseignant(e)s. Même si on n'a pas récu une formation pendant sa formation de maitre ou de professeur on aura le gout de la formation continue par soi-même.
Il faut aussi je pense à travers des témoignages susciter l'intérêt c'est à ce prix que les femmes s'engageront.
Il s'agit aussi dans le cadre de votre projet de montrer que vous êtes une possibilité gratuite de rentrer dans le monde des TIC par la distribution de prospectus.
Merci
Christophe HIEN
FICTTA in Tamale, Ghana
Agbenyo John Stephen
Friday, 4th February, 2011
Its has been a long time. Since Lusaka, we were unable to get the opportunity to communicate again. I hope your projects are picking up. I am glad that this platform has brought us to communicate again.
Many thanks for your contributions. One thing that i have not thought of is the use of flyers, etc to publicise this association. It is a great idea. Thanks!
The only challenge and fear is that we might get overwhelemed by the numbers when they start pouring in, especially that this service is free.
Thanks for your contribution
Cheers!
un lien qui pourait d'aider
SIA Benjamin
Friday, 4th February, 2011
pour faciliter l'engagement des enseignantes, il faut prendre en compte les facteurs bloquant leur. Il s'agit principalement:
- la technophobie qui est quelque peu propre à la gente feminine
- Aménager un emploi du temps qui tient compte de leurs occupations. En Afrique particulièrement les femmes sont plus chargées que nous les hommes. En plus des occupations liées à leurs emplois, elles doivent s'occuper de la famille (les enfants, la cuisine...)
- Il faut privilégier la formation par les paires, notamment les collègues enseignantes. Ce qui permet de dissiper la peur et de lever certaines barrières.
Voici un lien qui pourrait d'aider:
http://www.tanmia.ma/guid...
A bientôt
Ben Cher, Un grand mercipour
Agbenyo John Stephen
Friday, 4th February, 2011
Un grand mercipour touslesconseilsbeauté. Ilssontbiennoté. Unedeschoses que jeremarquea étéleexcitationdesenseignantsles plus.......flestraduirece qu'ilsontdéjàappristhéoriquementà l'école. Je reconnais aussi quecertainsd'entre euxont vules jargonstechniquesutilisésdansles TICcomme des obstacles àles embrasserla technologie. J'espèrequecetteambiance convivialeque monorganisationacréépoureux, ilsferontle meilleurusagede celui-ci.
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Dear Ben, Many thanks for all the beautiful tips. They are well noted. One of the things i noticed was the excitment of the teachers .......most f them translating what they have previously learnt theoretically in school. I also agree that some of them saw the technical jargons used in ICT as barriers to them embracing technology. I am hoping that with this friendly atmosphere that my organisation has created for them, they will make the best use of it.
Hi Stephen, How did the first
Saskia Harmsen
Wednesday, 2nd February, 2011
How did the first meeting go last friday? How did you end up dealing with the large number of female teachers that signed up? What activities do you think FICTTA will be facilitating to engage female teachers to learning about and using ICTs?
I am curious to learn from FICTTA's experiences!
Cheers!
FICTTA
Agbenyo John Stephen
Friday, 4th February, 2011
Many thanks for taking interest in FICTTA. The first meeting went very well. It offered an opportunity to the membership to network among themselves and also to share experiences from their schools. It was highly interactive.
Members also took the opportunity of filling out membership registration forms and also to elect their executives. While Mrs. Angela Boateng of Kamina Junior High School was elected President, Miss Theresa Adabugar of Northern School of Business Senior High School was elected Vice President. Miss Flavia Kwara Nonati of Tampe Kuokuo R/C Primary School was elected Organiser and Miss Helen Dabo of St. Charles Senior High School was elected as Secretary of the Association.
Later on Monday, the members started their ICT capacity building program at the Savana Signatures. The total membership is 37. They have therefore been put into three groups of 10. This is because Savana Signatures has only 10 computers at the ICT Centre. The three groups (Anika, Theodora and Amadora) will take their turns twice a week as follows;
Anika (A Dutch name meaning Very Beautiful) – Monday/Tuesday
Theodora (A Greek name meaning Gift of God) – Tuesday/Wednesday
Amadora (An Italian name meaning Gift of Love) – Thursday/Friday
The last group, Venus, made up of 7 members is on the waiting list.
FICTTA members for now will build their capacity in basic ICT skills. The second stage of the capacity building will involve helping them to design their lessons using a computer that they will have to deliver in their classrooms with the help of a projector. Savana Signatures staff will mentor them on this.
Note that all staff of Savana Signatures have an educational/teaching background and therefore are well positioned to mentor FICTTA members in this regard.
Our key challenges as an organization right now is to be able to secure some more computers and more importantly projectors for the teachers to use in delivering their lessons.
Cheers!