Third Batch of Girls-In-ICT Programme Kicks Off

The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD) in collaboration with the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE) and the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) is expected to start the training session for the third batch of the Girls-In-ICT programme today, (23rd to 28th October).

The initiative is under the third Phase with the aim of training 340 upper primary and Junior High School girls in Information Communication Technology (ICTs).

The programme also seeks to encourage young girls to take up career courses in ICT as well as develop interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The training modules include; Introduction to Computer Programming, Cyber Security, Animation development, Game development, Coding, Scratch, Website design.

After the one-week training, the beneficiaries would be assessed through an inter-district competition where the outstanding girls would be selected.

The third batch of girls (340) were selected from eleven (11) districts, which are -New Juaben North; New Juaben South; Akwapim North; Lower Manya Krobo; Upper Manya Krobo; Nsawam Adoagyiri; Suhum; Yilo Krobo; Akwapem South; Asougyaman and Okere.

This brings the total number of girls trained to a thousand (1000) in the Eastern Region

So far, the programme has trained 100 Teachers which happened from (2nd to 6th October, 2023), while a total number of 660 girls have benefited from 22 districts.

The first batch took place from 9th to 14th October, 2023 and trained a total number 327 girls.

The second batch started from (16th – 21st October, 2023) and trained 333.

Meanwhile, community engagement and announcement will be carried out to increase publicity.

Studio interviews will also be carried out ahead of the mentorship and climax event slated for 30 and 31st of October at the Koforidua Cultural Center respectively.

Introduction

The Girls in ICT (GIICT) programme was introduced in 2012 by the International Telecommunications Union to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider studies and careers in the growing field of ICT.

Ghana has since then adopted this initiative and observed it on a regional basis, having already celebrated it in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Northern, Volta, Western, Central and Oti regions.

Inception

Since its introduction, over 500,000 girls and women worldwide have benefitted from this initiative.

The training in coding has given the girls the opportunity to explore the world of technology through the creation of websites, computer games, interactive arts, mobile apps and animation stories, using various programming languages.

As part of strategies to ensure that Ghana achieves the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 and Ghana’s ICT for Accelerated Development policy (ICT4AD) on bridging the gender digital divide, the Ministry, through its agencies –the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications(GIFEC), National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Kofi Annan ICT Centre of Excellence, has expanded the reach of the GIICT event.

Outline

As part of the training programme, the girls are introduced to scratch and basic structures of programming applications, after which they participate in a competition.

This competition is expected to test the depth of knowledge and ICT skills acquired during the training period, including website design, development of games, coding and simple ICT applications.

Interestingly, over 60 per cent of the girls trained had no prior knowledge or experience in the use of computers.

This, therefore, buttresses the determination by the sector ministry to expand the programme to reach more girls with adequate funding and resources from benevolent individuals and organisations.

Since its inception, the programme has been funded entirely by the MoCD, NCA and GIFEC, with some support from network operators and the American Tower Corporation (ATC).

This was, however, not enough to scale up the programme.

Appreciation

It is therefore gratifying to note that the Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) donated towards the GIICT programme as part of their 25th anniversary.

The programme involves the following phases-training of trainers course, training of 1,000 girls from districts within the selected region,and a mentorship session where women currently working in the ICT field share their personal life stories and professional experiences with the young girls to encourage and guide them in their future career choices.

An open day experience formed part of the programme where the best 100 girls are brought to Accra for a week to tour Mobile Network Operators, ICT firms and interact with women in the workspace.

As part of the motivation package, prizes such as laptops, modems, among other IT facilities, are awarded to girls who excel in the competition.

In addition, ICT laboratories are set up in the schools of the girls who performed very well in the competition.

Tertiary

The ministry has also introduced the Girls in ICT at the tertiary level to encourage young girls interested in pursuing careers in ICT.

This is being done in partnership with Huawei Technologies Ghana Limited.

In September 2021, 50 female students from the University Students Association of Ghana (USAG) were taken through a 10-day training programme in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Big Data and Cyber Security.

This was a residential training programme.

The students were divided into groups and made to develop business-oriented ideas and solutions to modern problems and the groups with the most outstanding solutions to critical national issues were rewarded with deserving prizes.

SHS

The ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Huawei Technologies- Ghana, also educated 60,000 female Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Ashanti, Central and Eastern regions on Cyber Security as part of the Girls-in-ICT Programme in October 2021.

The next edition of the Girls-In-ICT Initiative will be held in the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Savannah and Northern regions with the aim of training 5,000 girls in 2022.