Computer Works Uganda sets up modern computer lab to boost ICT among special needs pupils

By Watchdog reporter

In Entebbe, is an inclusive school which gives children with special needs a chance to an education. Sure Prospects Institute is that school.

One of the students at Sure Prospects Institute is Sauda Kasubo, a 14 year old in Senior One. She has no arms but makes good with her feet.

Sauda can use her feet to write in Word program on her computer, and she hopes to make it to university some day.

With Sauda are other children such as Timothy Tulida, a 12 year old blind child. Usually these children use brail technology to write and communicate with their teachers. However, an opportunity has opened unto them that will see them do their work using computers which can be read by everyone else, and also ease their lives.

Computer Works Uganda in partnership with Global Technology Access Foundation, led by Clark Nicholson (The MicrosoftPrincipal Program Manager based in USA) have set up a state of the art Computer Laboratory with full-fledged Computer Lab System, powered with academic offline contents at Sure Prospects Institute to enable special need, disabled pupils and teachers to have access to modern ICT.

Unveiling the new modern Computer lab, the benefactors revealed that they are aiming at setting up ICT clubs in schools to boost ICT innovations for employment creation, poverty eradication and sustainable development by sharing learning experiences, training educators, scholars and the public.

“There is a need to invest our focus on young people regardless of their physical ability, social economic status, Religious beliefs, academic achievements,” stated John Kyakuwa, Executive Director of Computer Works Uganda.

Adding that, “Empowering the young ones especially with special needs is the best inspiration you can give the World than talking of the cause disabilities! I always cherish young ones because I believe they’re natural adopters of new technologies and certainly the potential for technology and digital media to be a force for innovation” Let us consider Information Technology as a raw material for community development and to fight poverty in Uganda and Africa in general,”

Kyakuwa further raised concern that they strongly believe that the ministry of Education has done its best to promote information technology in both rural and urban schools but the effort cannot be realized due to the high costs of computers lab maintenance.

“We strongly believe that the Uganda Ministry of Education has done its best to promote information technology in both rural and urban schools but the effort can’t be realized due to high cost of computer lab maintenance with a sea of challenges,” he stressed.

According to research, the demand for ICT learning in Uganda is tremendous. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of secondary schools are interested in investing in Computer labs but lack of funds to buy and sustain the ongoing operation, maintenance and servicing the costly standalone computer systems.

Apparently, Computer Works Uganda has come up with the modern Cost effective ICT labs for schools that schools pays on termly partial installments.

So far some the of schools to benefit on the partial payment scheme include; Aluuka Secondary School in Zombo district, Maluka Secondary School in Mbale, Millennium Secondary School in Kyankwanzi district and many others.

Computer Works Uganda donates academic contents to all schools it gives computers to enable students and teachers who don’t offer computer courses to find relevance of using a computer lab without the aid of an IT teacher.

Since last year in June, Computer Works team has been promoting the Microsoft cost effective computer lab systems to schools in all regions in Uganda, carrying out system demos to schools and to District Education Officers (D.E.Os).

Computer Works Uganda is Microsoft’s authorized Education Partner in Uganda, empowering success of everybody to make the best investment possible in IT solutions for everyone’s company, schools, organization and individuals.